Former Sheffield United defender, George Baldock has tragically died after being found lifeless in his swimming pool in Greece.
The 31-year-old, who had been a key player for Sheffield United during their time in the Premier League, was discovered in the pool at his home in Glyfada, a suburb in southern Athens, on Wednesday evening.
In a statement, Baldock’s family expressed their devastation: “We can confirm that George has sadly passed away. As a family we are in shock at this terrible loss.”
Reports from state agency ANA confirm that Baldock’s body was found at the bottom of the pool, with a bottle of alcohol nearby.
It was gathered that his wife, who was out of the country, became concerned after being unable to reach him by phone and contacted the owner of the residence to check on him.
Emergency services, including police and an ambulance, were dispatched to the scene.
According to state TV ERT, initial investigations found no signs of foul play, and it is believed Baldock had been dead for around five hours before he was discovered.
A coroner was also called to examine the body, and no evidence of forced entry was found at the home.
Baldock, who joined Panathinaikos in May after a seven-year tenure at Sheffield United, had been a part of the Greek national team since 2022 due to his Greek heritage.
He had earned 12 caps for Greece but was not included in the squad for their upcoming Nations League match against England due to an injury.
In tribute to the player, the official websites and social media accounts of the Greek national team and his club Panathinaikos have been blacked out.
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