DAVID MEARNS MAKES OFFER TO DAVE IBBOTSON'S FAMILY

Emiliano Sala investigator makes offer to pilot David Ibbotson's family
By Adam Aspinall

EXCLUSIVE: David Mearns, who led the mission to find the footballer's body, says he hasn't had contact with the pilot's family


The investigator who found Emiliano Sala's body has offered hope to the family of the missing pilot saying he would come to their aid if he could.

David Mearns, the crack maritime investigator hired by the Sala family to find the wreckage of his doomed plane, said he would treat David Ibbotson's family just the same as Sala's if they made contact with him.


He told The Mirror: “I came to the aid of the Sala family on a voluntary basis because they needed help.

“We are just a loose group of people who came together to do this because it was the right thing to do.

“If the Ibbotson family came to us I would treat them in exactly the same way as anyone else and see what we could do. I have had not contact with the Ibbotson family.

“There is still a body to be found and a plane wreck to recover but the private search came to an end once the wreckage was discovered and the AAIB took over.

“With the weather conditions out there right now it is not possible to continue the search at the moment so it is too early to say what will happen.”


On Thursday night police confirmed the body found in the plane wreckage in the English Channel is that of Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala, 28.

But the body of 60-year-old Ibbotson is yet to be found.

The day before it emerged an unidentified body - now known to be Sala - was brought off ship, Geo Ocean III, on a stretcher and transferred to a private ambulance before being taken to Dorset Police and the local coroner.

The plane was flying from Nantes, France, the home of Sala's former team, to Cardiff on January 21, when it crashed into the sea with the new £15million signing and pilot David Ibbotson inside.


Today Sala's family also appealed for Ibbotson's body to be found.

They said in a statement: “We would like to thank you for all your signs of affection and support in what is the most painful time of our lives.

“Seeing the whole world mobilized to support us in our research has been infinitely precious help. Thanks to you, we are now able mourn our son and brother.

“Our thoughts got to David Ibbotson and his family, hoping the authorities will do their best to find him.”

David Ibbotson's family were unavailable for comment today.

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I hope everyone can chip in and, David is back to help the family. The plane has to be recovered badly.

I hope everyone can chip in and, David is back to help the family. The plane has to be recovered badly.

Completely agree

AAIB for what ever reason arnt in a rush to get it.
Weather restrictions are understandable but equipment in this day and age surely they should have to hand.

I hope everyone can chip in and, David is back to help the family. The plane has to be recovered badly.

Completely agree

AAIB for what ever reason arnt in a rush to get it.
Weather restrictions are understandable but equipment in this day and age surely they should have to hand.

While their boat can stay in a fixed position it cannot stop rising up down in a 6ft+ swell or high waves, so almost impossible to safely to attempt to recover plane as possibly the rov is attached to boat by umbilical cord? Hope aaiv will go back to take a final look to see if he's in plane maybe stuck by debris but kind doubt it, if not in plane a search is surely fruitless and question the 300k family are asking Joe public to give for a search but totally understand them wanting to keep looking.

I live in the Channel Islands and walk my dogs daily on the beach. It's gnarly as hell out there. Not as easy as people think in the current conditions.

I hope everyone can chip in and, David is back to help the family. The plane has to be recovered badly.

Completely agree

AAIB for what ever reason arnt in a rush to get it.
Weather restrictions are understandable but equipment in this day and age surely they should have to hand.

Their initial risk assessment will include a 'duty of care' for the rescue teams themselves and their safety and welfare will be paramount

Under the 'Safe Person Concept', they have to place greater emphasis on ensuring safe work equipment, safe systems of work and providing competent personnel. With this, they will have both an organisational and individual responsibility, which will include knowing when not to continue an operation on the grounds of health, safety and welfare

Weather conditions will be a huge factor locally