Brazilian side Chapecoense will play their first league game since the tragedy the nearly destroyed their club later this week. One of the three surviving members of the squad has opened up about the moment of the crash.
Back in November the plane carrying most of the squad, coaches, a large group of journalists and other passengers, to Colombia crashed and killed 71 of the 77 people on board.
The squad were travelling to a match against Atletico Nacional when the tragedy killed 21 of the 24 members on board the flight. It came with just one game left of the season.
At the weekend they played their first game as a club since the disaster with a squad made up of former youth players and loanees from other Brazilian clubs. Ahead of their first official game former goalkeeper Jakson Follmann has been speaking to Brazilian TV about the moment the plane went down:
"I remember when the aeroplane turned itself off, when the lights went out. I saw that something was wrong. The plane did not actually fall; after turning off, it started to glide slowly. I don't remember the moment of the crash because I passed out. It happened so quickly.
"I do remember waking up (before the rescue). I opened my eyes. It was very dark and very cold. I was shivering. I shouted, 'Help! I don't want to die!' Some of my friends, who were still alive, also shouted. I heard the rescuers arrive, saying they were national police."
At 24 the former goalkeeper has had to retire after the crash caused him to have part of his leg amputated although it was initially feared that both of his legs might have to be removed.
Follman also described what it was like waking from his coma four days later to find out the horrible news that many of his former colleagues had died, "My mum came in and spoke to me. It was difficult. That's when I woke up. I cried a lot when I opened my eyes."
Fellow survivor Helio Neto, who was also at the club's first game back, is back walking and has been told he is able to play football again in the future.
Follman revealed his plans for the future saying, "I'm going to get married. I want to get back to a normal life," it's the very least he deserves.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football, Chapecoense, Brazil