Greece defender and former Premier League footballer George Baldock “most likely” drowned at the pool of his apartment in Glyfada, Athens.
Greek police investigating the circumstances of Baldock’s death said there was no suggestion of foul play.
The examining coroner found there were no signs of injuries or bruises on the deceased’s body, concluding he had died after he had swallowed water.
It was unclear whether the 31-year-old was alone or if his death had been triggered by “sudden collapse.”
Baldock is believed to have been dead “for five hours” before his body was discovered by the owner of the first-floor apartment, who jumped over a fence to access the property. The man had been asked to look for the footballer by Baldock’s concerned partner, who had remained in England with the couple’s young son, after her repeated telephone calls had gone unanswered.
The full-back, who was born in England and had Greek roots on his father’s side, qualifying for the national team through a grandmother, moved to the Greek capital after signing for Panathinaikos in the summer.
The news of the tragic and untimely demise of the player reverberated throughout the global football community, with an outpouring of condolences and expressions of shock on social media.
On Thursday, Greece dedicated their historic victory against England in the UEFA Nations League to Baldock. A minutes silence was held at the start of the match for Greece’s defender.
Source: The Guardian.
