Young Italian volleyball player Julia Ituma, who was born in Nigeria, passed away in Turkey after what is believed to have been a fall from a hotel window after her team, Novara, lost to Turkish team Eczacibas in the Champions League semi-final.
According to Turkish authorities, Ituma, 18, was staying on the sixth floor of an Istanbul hotel.
According to Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah, the body of the athlete with Nigerian ancestry who was born in Italy was found in front of the hotel at 5:30 a.m. local time.
“With deep sorrow and emotion, the club announces the sudden passing of Italian volleyball player Julia Ituma.”
The Italian club continued, “The tragedy happened in the early morning hours, and the Turkish police are looking into the specifics of the incident.”
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“We are all dismayed by this tragedy which affects not only the volleyball world but all of Italian sport,” Italian Volleyball Federation President Giuseppe Manfredi said in a statement.
“My first thought goes to Julia’s family, to whom I send my deepest condolences and I guarantee that the Italian Volleyball Federation will provide maximum support.”
AFP
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