COPS are scouring CCTV to find out if a ghoul broke into a morgue to take the sick photo of Emiliano Sala’s body, it has been claimed.
The Cardiff City footballer‘s body had been pulled from the wreckage of a plane after it crashed over the English Channel in January, with the apparent photographs sending ripples of disgust through the sporting community.
Now, the Sun Online has found evidence the photograph had been shared online just a few days after Sala’s remains were recovered in the Piper Malibu N264DB plane on February 3.
Yesterday Dorset Police said: “We are aware that a picture reported to be of Mr Sala’s body has been shared on social media channels and are disgusted somebody did this.
“It is clearly a very difficult time for Mr Sala’s family and they should not have to endure additional pain that this shameful act will undoubtedly cause.
“We are investigating this incident and working with a number of agencies to establish how the picture was taken and who is responsible.”
Police refused to comment on when the investigation into the ghoulish photograph was launched.
The sick stunt comes just two days after the star’s father Horatio died “of a broken heart” after the tragic loss of his son.
The Times today reported police do not suspect a member of staff at the morgue – Holly Tree Lodge – leaked the photograph.
The emergency of the photographs have been widely slammed by the footballing community.
A Cardiff City FC spokesperson said: “Cardiff City FC expresses its disgust and outrage at the individual/individuals who thoughtlessly took and shared the image.”
Twitter is also on high alert, monitoring any tweets that may share the image.
A spokesperson said: “We have a gratuitous gore policy which we take robust action on when we identify content that violates our rules.”
Sala was just 28 when he died in a plane crash, en route from Nantes to Cardiff, in January this year.
It took two weeks for his body to be found after a massive search of the English Channel. The body of pilot David Ibbotson remains missing.
Sala’s body had been examined by a coroner, at the morgue for five days before being flown to Argentina for his funeral.
An inquest into his death in Dorset on February 11 opened and adjourned after hearing how a post-mortem confirmed Sala died from “head and trunk” injuries.
His body was ultimately identified by fingerprints.
The world of football united in grief over the loss, with Sala’s new club and team-mates saying the Argentinian will “forever remain in our thoughts”.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are continuing their investigations into the cause of the crash.
Bournemouth, Cardiff and Poole Council, who runs the mortuary, said in a statement: “We are revolted by this heartless act and cannot understand why anyone would do such a vile and hurtful thing.
“We are of course supporting the Police in their investigation in any way that we can, and will continue to provide any assistance required.
“As the Police investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
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