Former footballer Alan Ruschel, a survivor of the LaMia flight disaster, has announced his retirement from Juventude, the club he defined as his home and place of belonging.
The defender's harrowing image following the accident.
NA agency reported that Ruschel did not resist the rescue, although the professionals assisting him stated that he handed over his documents and asked to contact his father while in shock.
Ruschel suffered severe spinal injuries that cast doubt on his ability to walk again, although he reacted immediately to initial examinations and regained mobility within days.
The defender admitted that "he was unaware of the magnitude of the tragedy upon waking up in the hospital" and that "it was only with psychological intervention that he was able to come to terms with the loss of his teammates."
He also acknowledged that the sequence of coincidences that kept him out of the semifinal against San Lorenzo due to a passport issue ultimately led him to the seat he occupied during the final flight.
His rehabilitation progressed in stages and culminated in his return to competition, including a friendly match against Barcelona that connected him with the European elite.
Buenos Aires, November 28 (NA) -- The testimony of Alan Ruschel once again shocks nine years after the Chapecoense air tragedy, with the survivor and current captain of Juventude reliving the moment when the pilot announced the landing without the aircraft descending, a central episode in an accident that forever marked South American football.
According to information compiled by the Argentine News Agency, Ruschel recalled that the flight to Medellín "was meant to be a celebration for Chapecoense" for the Copa Sudamericana final.
The Brazilian recounted that "the pilot announced that the descent was about to begin," although the plane repeated maneuvers unsuccessfully until the lights went out, silence filled the cabin, and the turbulence before impact left him with a final memory before losing consciousness.
He also explained that "the aircraft had not raised any suspicions beforehand," beyond the usual administrative details for a club inexperienced in international competitions.
Choosing a different seat favored his survival, as Ruschel changed places at a teammate's request and remained there until the accident.
Later, he faced internal tensions at Chapecoense due to management statements that pushed him to seek new horizons.
Over time, he regained prominence, won titles, and returned to a high level that, in his opinion, has not received proportional recognition for the overcoming he achieved.
