LISBON - Former Germany and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack's 18-year-old son Emilio died in a quad-bike accident near Lisbon on Thursday, Setubal's emergency services said.
A spokesperson for the emergency operations told Reuters Emilio died at 2:17 a.m. in the holiday destination Troia, south of Lisbon. The 18-year-old was involved in a four-wheel crash.
Firefighters and police officers rushed to help but he died at the scene. Psychologists were also there to provide support to the family. Portuguese media reports said the teenager had been riding on an uneven piece of land in Troia, near the Ballack family home, when the bike rolled backwards and fell on top of him.
Chelsea tweeted: "Everybody associated with Chelsea Football Club is shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Emilio Ballack at the terribly young age of 18. All our thoughts are with his father Michael and his family at this sad time.”
Everybody associated with Chelsea Football Club is shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Emilio Ballack at the terribly young age of 18.
All our thoughts are with his father Michael and his family at this sad time.— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 5, 2021
#Bayer04 trauert um Emilio Ballack.
Rudi #Völler: „Die Nachricht hat mich geschockt und ich bin zutiefst betroffen. Wir trauern um den Jungen und fühlen mit Michael und Simone. Wir alle hier bei Bayer 04 wünschen der ganzen Familie Ballack unglaublich viel Kraft.“ pic.twitter.com/XNSnjbkh1b— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) August 5, 2021
Emilio was born in 2002 to Michael's then-girlfriend Simone Lambe. The former Germany captain has two more sons from his relationship with Lambe, born in 2001 and 2005.
(Reporting by Cataraina Demony; Writing by Dhruv Munjal; Editing by Ken Ferris)
