The father of Brazilian player Helio Hermito Zampier Neto has claimed that his son could play football again after surviving Monday's tragic plane crash.
The 31-year-old defender was one of five people who lived after a plane carrying the Chapecoense football team plunged into a mountainside near Medellin, Colombia four days ago.
The team were on their way to compete in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional when the aircraft reportedly ran out of fuel.
According to BBC Sport, doctors have confirmed that Neto is in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgery on his knee, wrist, lung and head.
The player's father Helam took to social media to provide an update on his son's health, adding that medical experts believe that the defender's football career may not be over.
He wrote on Facebook: "My son is getting better and better. He has just undergone surgery on his leg and doctors say he will return to football. We shall continue praying because we still need his discharge from hospital to see him closely."
Chapecoense manager Caio Junior and his coaching staff were also killed in the tragedy.
Danielle Joynson
