A Nigerian-born Italian volleyball star, Julia Ituma, has died after falling from the window of her hotel room hours after her team, Igor Novara, were eliminated from the Champions League.
The 18-year-old Italian-Nigerian volleyball star and her teammates had travelled to Turkey to face Eczacibas in the second leg of their semi-final tie.
Ituma scored two points during her side’s 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-21) defeat to Eczacibas on Wednesday night.
Turkish police said Ituma was staying on the sixth floor of a hotel in Istanbul.
The body of the Italian-born athlete of Nigerian origin was however discovered at 5:30 a.m. local time in front of the hotel.
Her club said: “With deep sorrow and emotion the untimely death of Italian volleyball player Julia Ituma.
“The tragedy occurred in the early hours of the day and the specifics of the incident are being investigated by the Turkish police.”
Reacting via a statement, the President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, Giuseppe Manfredi, said: “We are all dismayed by this tragedy which affects not only the volleyball world but all of Italian sport.
“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.”
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