The local prosecutor’s office reported on Wednesday that the former President of Chile, Sebastian Pinera, passed away due to suffocation caused by being underwater after the helicopter he was flying crashed into a lake in southern Chile on Tuesday.
The state coroner’s office in Valdivia, a city in southern Chile, performed an autopsy on Pinera, who passed away at the age of 74. After the autopsy, his body was transported to the Chilean capital on Wednesday to receive state honours.
Esquivel also mentioned that they haven’t figured out the reason behind the accident yet. However, they are using forensic data to come up with a “more likely theory.” Currently, a specialized team is investigating the location where the crash occurred.
The helicopter that was carrying the president of Chile for two terms (from 2010-2014 and 2018-2022) crashed into Lake Ranco, which is a popular tourist area in southern Chile with lakes, forests, and volcanoes. This happened shortly after the helicopter took off.
Starting this Wednesday, the body of the former president will be kept at the former Congress building in Santiago. Initially, only close family and friends will be allowed to view the body, but later it will be open to the public. The funeral will take place on Friday.