POLICE investigating the death of CD Tenerife footballer Jesus de Miguel are probing the emergency medical response, as well as the possibility that goalkeeper Jesus Owono’s horror tackle could be involuntary manslaughter.
Homicide squad officers based in the capital, Santa Cruz, yesterday as court officials explained that any death “not resulting from natural causes” automatically triggers a judicial investigation.
Legal experts have said they don’t expect the ongoing investigation to lead to criminal charges against goalkeeper Owono because the clash occurred during open play, although he is expected to be hit with a lengthy ban.
But overnight it emerged the police probe will also review the medical response to and seek to address questions about was given oxygen on the pitch and whether a defibrillator was used from the outset as well as issues around the assistance he received during his ambulance transfer.
The 30-year-old father-of-one died yesterday morning at Nuestra Senora Candelaria University Hospital after his second-division club revealed his neurological condition had worsened.
Medical personnel involved in the footballer’s care are expected to be questioned, and detectives will sift through medical reports as part of the probe.
Well-placed sources told local press overnight there were “certain discrepancies within the reports, or potential inaccuracies when compared to other evidence in the case”, such as video footage recorded and posted on social media.
Respected island newspaper El Dia said: “Among the issues currently under investigation, which, according to sources, remained unresolved as of yesterday, is whether the medical team who rushed from the sidelines to the centre of the pitch carrying a stretcher, a spinal board, and an Automated External Defibrillator to attend to the player, acted with due diligence during the more than six minutes they spent on the pitch before placing him on the spinal board for transport to an ambulance, which was stationed at one of the stadium access gates on La Mutine Street.”
It added: “Investigators are also looking into an even more striking question.
“After a Guedel airway, a curved, semi-rigid oropharyngeal tube, was inserted into the player’s mouth following his loss of consciousness, to prevent his tongue from obstructing his airway, was he also provided with oxygen during the resuscitation efforts on the pitch, as is required by protocol?
Rotos de dolor, con un nudo en la garganta y sin poder creer que esto sea verdad, desde el CD Tenerife comunicamos el trágico fallecimiento, este martes, día 3 de noviembre de 2026, a las 8:00 horas, de Jesús de Miguel Alameda.
— CD Tenerife 🏴 (@CDTOficial) November 3, 2026
No hay palabras de consuelo; no hay absolutamente… pic.twitter.com/IbS1dTYP1b
“According to sources, efforts are still underway to gather all available evidence to determine whether De Miguel was administered oxygen, either via a bag-valve mask (Ambu bag) or a face mask connected to one of the oxygen cylinders kept pitchside at the stadium.
“Sources indicate that this remains unresolved, at least regarding the medical care provided on the field of play.
“Furthermore, footage of the player being transported on a spinal board suggests that oxygen was not being administered during that process.
“Additionally, during the evacuation from the centre of the pitch to the ambulance, the player was carried on a spinal board by individuals who were moving at a jog.
“The manner in which the patient was transported, which should never have been carried out in such a way, was highly dangerous to their physical well-being.”
Equatorial Guinea international Owono, who has lived in since he was eight, was sent off for kneeing Tenerife striker De Miguel in the chest near the halfway line deep into second-half stoppage time.
The match was suspended when the two sides were drawing 2-2.
Jesus, whose partner Maria and one-year-old daughter Carla were watching from the stands, was reportedly revived by paramedics on the pitch after going into cardiac arrest before being rushed to hospital.
His club confirmed around 9.30am local time yesterday morning he had died at a hospital in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz about 8am, saying they were “heartbroken” and had a “lump in their throats.
A statement released after revealing his neurological condition had worsened read: “Heartbroken, with a lump in our throats, and unable to believe this is true, CD Tenerife announces the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda, which occurred this Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 8am.
“There are no words of comfort, there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow.
“We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire ‘tinerfeñismo’ community, who today mourn this cruel outcome.
“Jesus de Miguel’s family expresses their gratitude for every single gesture of support received, and they also earnestly request the utmost respect for their privacy during these terrible times.”
Owono is reportedly seeking to apologise to De Miguel’s family before making any kind of public statement.
FC Andorra, reacting to news of the Tenerife striker’s death in hospital, said yesterday morning: “Heartbroken and devastated, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel, all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace.”
De Miguel’s body is expected be flown to the Spanish mainland today so his funeral can take place in the town where his parents hail from.
His mum and dad travelled to Tenerife after being told about the severity of his injuries before confirmation of his death.
They will now make the reverse trip to Madrid before travelling to Navahermosa in the province of Toledo, 80 miles southwest of the Spanish capital, which they have chosen as the place for the player’s funeral.
Tenerife club revealed the location yesterday afternoon, but said it was unable to say at this stage when exactly it would be.
Town hall officials in Navahermosa, which has a population of just over 3,500 inhabitants, said immediately after learning of the footballer’s death: “Since yesterday, we had held onto the hope that Jesus might overcome the toughest match of his life. However, we woke up today to the worst possible news.
“On behalf of the town hall, we wish to express our deepest sorrow at this tragic outcome. We want to extend all our love, support, and affection to his family, friends, and everyone who is feeling this loss today.
“There are no words that can ease such profound pain, but please know that we are by your side and that we share in your sadness. Jesus, you have always been, and will always remain, a source of pride for us.
“Today, with broken hearts, we must say goodbye, but we will hold onto your memory. Rest in peace.”
Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha region which includes Navahermosa and the province of Toledo where a train crash last Wednesday claimed the lives of 69 people, added in his own statement: “I am at a loss for words; the passing of footballer Jesus de Miguel, while doing what he loved most and what he had fought so hard for, playing , is heartbreaking news.
“My thoughts are with his family, who hail from the municipality of Navahermosa in the province of Toledo. My deepest condolences.”
The entire CD Tenerife squad will travel to Navahermosa to to their teammate. Flags outside the town hall flew at half-mast today.
The National Police in the island capital Santa Cruz have yet to release an official statement about its ongoing probe.
But a force spokesman said yesterday evening: “An investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident which led to Jesus de Miguel’s death which is being conducted by the homicide unit.
“It has been opened because the death was not the result of natural causes and it will seek to determine whether in terms of the law, an involuntary manslaughter could have been committed.”
The report police will draft following their probe will be submitted to a local judge, who will decide whether to take the matter further.
A Canary Islands court source described the collision between the two footballers as “an accidental collision on the playing field.”
But he added: “Any death not resulting from natural causes, referred to as a ‘forensic death,’ whether due to an accident or other factors, automatically triggers a judicial investigation, which is the case here.”
Court officials said this morning they weren’t able to comment on when they expected to receive the police report into the drama.
One said: “At the moment the investigation is still in the hands of police who will submit their report to a court in Santa Cruz once officers have completed their work.”
