Chapecoense Defender Helio Neto Discharged from Hospital

Chapecoense defender Helio Neto, one of the six survivors of the plane crash in Colombia that killed 71 people, was discharged from the hospital today and said he is "happy to be alive".

Neto, who arrived in Brazil last Thursday and was hospitalized directly in a hospital in Chapeco, the team's city, left the medical facility after recovering from a lung infection.

The defender stated in a press conference that he "doesn't remember anything" from the moment the Bolivian airline Lamia's plane crashed into a hill on the night of November 28, just a few kilometers from the José María Córdova Airport near Medellín.

Out of the 77 people on board the aircraft, only six survived: three players from Chapecoense, including Neto, two crew members, and a local journalist accompanying the team to report on the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atlético Nacional.

"It's a difficult situation. I'm happy to be alive, but I lost many friends", said emotional Neto, who took the opportunity to "thank all the support received and send a heartfelt kiss" to all the relatives of the victims, 19 of whom were players from Chapecoense's first team.

The doctor Carolina Ponzi, who accompanied him at the press conference, said that Neto had a "fantastic recovery from a clinical point of view".

On the other hand, goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, another survivor of the accident, will remain hospitalized to have a prosthesis fitted on his right leg, which was partially amputated due to injuries sustained in the crash.

The goalkeeper underwent surgery on his left foot on Tuesday, from which he lost part of the ankle bone after the accident.

The other two Brazilian survivors, left back Alan Ruschel and journalist Rafael Henzel, were discharged a few days ago.

EFE