Emiliano Sala's father Horacio dead: Tragic striker's dad suffers heart attack

The late Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala [Courtesy]

Emiliano Sala's father Horacio has tragically passed away in Argentina after a heart attack.

The news was confirmed by a local politician, three months after the Cardiff striker was killed on board a private jet.

Sala was flying from Nantes to Cardiff shortly after completing his £15m move to the Premier League side.

Horacio, 58, passed away after suffering a heart attack in his bed on Thursday night and could not be saved by paramedics, it has been announced.

The former truck driver made emotional pleas during the search for Sala and was pictured with Cardiff manager Neil Warnock at his funeral.

"2019 doesn't let up in shocking us with news in this town," mayor of Progreso Julio Muller said. 

"At 5 o'clock in the morning, the lady, his wife, rang me and she was very upset.

"The doctors were there but when I arrived at their home, he had already died.

"He could never overcome what happened to Emiliano.

"When the body was found he thought the case would be closed - but all the news that came to light about the pilot was very difficult."

Emiliano Sala's father Horacio during the funeral. [Courtesy]

Sala was travelling to Cardiff from former club Nantes with pilot Dave Ibbotson on January 21 when his Malibu Piper jet went missing over the English Channel.

Speaking days after the crash, Horacio described his son as a 'small town humble boy' to Argentine TV.

"I cannot believe it. This is a dream. A bad dream. I am desperate," he said.

"He was a lad who always fought for what he had."

Horacio's wife Mercedes and daughter Romina made visits to England during the desperate search.

An initial search failed to find the plane before a privately-funded search, led by chief investigator David Mearns, got underway.

The coffin is carried during Emiliano Sala's funeral. [Courtesy]

A body was found among the wreckage almost three weeks after going missing and Sala was identified by the Dorset coroner on February 7. Pilot Ibbotson's body was never accounted for.

Thousands flocked to the 28-year-old's funeral in his hometown of Progreso with tributes paid to the Argentine across the world.

It has since been reported that pilot Ibbotson was not qualified to fly in the dark with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch launching an investigation.

He was also not allowed to carry passengers for remuneration or financial reward on a private pilot's licence.

Cardiff released a statement demanding those responsible for organising the doomed flight are held "fully accountable".

It has been reported Cardiff will tell FIFA they will not pay the £15m transfer fee to Nantes due to the forward's death making the switch "null and void".