Pelayo Novo dead aged 32: Spanish football star and tennis director passes away after being ‘hit by a train’

EX-SPANISH footballer and tennis director Pelayo Novo has died aged 32 after reportedly being hit by a train.

Novo had turned to wheelchair tennis five years ago after an horrific fall from the third-floor of his team’s hotel.

GettyTragic Pelayo Novo played for second-tier Spanish clubs[/caption]

GettyNovo, pictured at the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Nottingham last July, has died after another horrific incident[/caption]

Spanish media said on Tuesday night the former second-tier midfielder was crushed to death by a train in Oviedo.

Novo was a second-tier midfielder for Elche, Cordoba, Lugo and Albacete.

And tributes from past clubs, as well as teams he was connected with, have poured in.

Real Oviedo posted: “With a broken heart. We deeply regret the death of Pelayo Novo, captain of our Foundation. Family, friends: we are with you. Rest in peace Pelayo.”

A statement from Cordoba read: “We deeply regret the death of our former player Pelayo Novo at the age of 32.

“He will always remain in the memory of the Cordobesistas, since a cross of his made us ‘touch the sky in Las Tendillas’.
Our sincere condolences to family and friends.”

Novo was 27 when he was seriously hurt after falling from Albacete’s team hotel in the North Eastern city of Huesca in March 2018.

He spent 51 days in a Zaragoza hospital following that accident.

And when he was moved to the Toledo National Paraplegic Hospital he captured hearts with his attitude once he realised he’d never play football again.

Novo said at the time: “The human being adapts to the circumstances that he has.

“It is logical that it takes time because there are times when it is bad.

“I managed to get out of that and now I am having a great time.”

Now the world of Spanish sport is trying to comprehend his tragic death following a second horrifying incident.