Footballer Emiliano Sala had carbon monoxide poisoning prior to crash - inquest

Blood tests taken from the body of footballer Emiliano Sala showed he had been overcome by toxic levels of carbon monoxide poisoning prior to his death in a plane crash, an inquest heard.

The 28-year-old was on a private plane travelling to Cardiff when it crashed in the English Channel near Guernsey on 21 January 2019.

The body of pilot David Ibbotson, 59, has never been found.

Sala's inquest resumed on Tuesday after being adjourned for legal reasons.

The Argentina-born striker was joining Cardiff City in a £15m transfer from French Ligue 1 side Nantes.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue had said Sala had died from severe head and chest injuries consistent with a plane crash.

But prior to his death he had been overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning and would have been "deeply unconscious" at the point of impact with the sea, Dr Purdue said.

He said toxicological tests on samples of Sala's blood showed a carbon monoxide blood saturation level of 58%, which he described as "severe poisoning", and suggested the source was the plane's exhaust system.

Continuing his evidence, Dr Purdue said two blood samples were taken from Sala - one from the iliofemoral vein and a second from the cavity of Sala's torso.

The first blood sample was sent away for carbon monoxide testing and the second was used to confirm identity from DNA testing.

The second sample was later sent to Canada for further testing.

Dr Purdue explained that, due to decomposition, he was only able to take one blood sample from the iliofemoral vein and obtained blood for DNA testing from the cavity.

He said cavity blood was often contaminated and of "uncertain composition", and could not be relied upon for toxicological examination, although it was acceptable for DNA testing.

"It is not blood, it is blood with an unknown of other things - you are going to be misled," he said.

"If we had more blood, I would have taken more samples.

"The fact we only had one bottle is indicative of all we could get."

Forensic examiner Katherine Baldwin told the inquest the cavity blood sample was stored in a Dorset Police freezer until it was sent off to Canada for testing.

She also confirmed the first sample had been destroyed by a forensic lab after being tested, even though it was part of an ongoing investigation.

The inquest heard the Piper Malibu aircraft left Nantes airport at 19:15 GMT and radar contact was lost at 20:15.

The aircraft was located on the seabed on 3 February and Sala's body was found in the wreckage three days later.

The inquest at Dorset Coroner's Court, which is taking place at the Town Hall in Bournemouth, is due to last around a month.