Police investigating the drowning of footballer Jerzy Baldock have recovered CCTV footage showing him swimming in the pool at his luxury apartment in Greece after his devastated family revealed he was due to fly home for his son's first birthday.
Sources say CCTV from a neighboring property captured half of the pool and showed the man entering the water at around 6.45am on Wednesday evening. It swam vigorously, then suddenly stopped and sank.
A statement from Baldock's family was published today, revealing the footballer was due to fly home to celebrate his son's first birthday, but they are now “mourning his loss”.
Paying tribute, they said: “you were the most special father, fiancé, son, brother, uncle, friend, teammate and person.”
“Your enthusiasm and infectious personality brought so much love to those who were lucky enough to know you and to those who adored you from the stands.”
The footballer moved to Greek club Panathinaikos in the summer and was found dead in his swimming pool on Wednesday
Emergency services outside the home of British-born Panathinaikos and Greek defender George Baldock, where he was found dead, in the upscale suburb of Glyfada
Baldock says goodbye to fans before the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane in May, before moving to Greece
The family further said it was “impossible not to love him,” asking the public for privacy during this “devastating time.”
Footage police recovered after former Sheffield United defender Baldock was found in a swimming pool at 10.30pm is key to finding out what happened, although officials are confident there was no foul play.
On Sunday, Baldock played for his new club Panathinakos against fierce rivals Olympiakos, with the match ending in a 0-0 draw with the former Premier League playing poorly in the 75th minute.
It is known that on Wednesday he trained with his team as usual, and then drove 23 km from the session to a rented ground-floor apartment for 15,000 euros a month in the exclusive Glyfada on the outskirts of Athens.
Police say his partner contacted the property manager – identified as Andreas Vlachopoulos – who went to the property and found Baldock dead in the pool with the owners.
On his Instagram, Mr. Vlachopoulos wrote: “Being called to the office at 10 p.m. in the evening by the owner of a rental property and being the first to be informed that your client was found dead in the swimming pool of his house.
'There are no words for what I feel. I wish strength to his family,” and added a photo of Baldock.
The full statement from Baldock's family reads: “We are devastated by the sudden death of our beloved George. We can confirm that the autopsy revealed that George tragically drowned while swimming in the pool at his home in Glyfada, Athens.
George Baldock was training on the day of his death and his teammates and staff gathered outside the villa where he was found dead yesterday
George Baldock will face fierce rivals Olympiakos in a local derby on Sunday
George lived in this property in the Greek capital after moving to club giants Panathinaikos
Today's scene as former Sheffield United defender George Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool in Athens, Greece
“George, you were an exceptional father, fiancé, son, brother, uncle, friend, teammate and person. Your enthusiasm and infectious personality brought so much love to those who were lucky enough to know you and to those who adored you from the stands.
“We will forever cherish the special memories we have of you and you will continue to live on in your beautiful son. You were supposed to fly home today so we could celebrate his first birthday together, but instead we mourn your loss.
“It has been incredibly moving for our family, but equally difficult, to read the vast number of tributes written by those who knew George and those whose lives he touched.
“It was impossible not to love him. We ask that you continue to respect our privacy during this devastating time as we begin to process our grief.”
Greek media also reported that Wednesday was Baldock's son's first birthday and that his partner – who has not yet been identified – called from the UK knowing he would not want to miss the event.
It is understood that she asked the manager and the owner to search the apartment, and when they could not find him, she asked them to check the swimming pool, and that is when he was found.
The landlord dove into the pool and pulled him to the surface where he performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation while paramedics rushed to the scene, but nothing could be done and his body was later taken to the mortuary.
An autopsy later confirmed he had drowned, but toxicology reports would take at least a week to come back.
