The farewell ceremony for the body of Argentine and world football legend, Diego Armando Maradona, began in the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
Maradona had suffered a heart attack yesterday morning, while in the town of Tigre, and was taken to the hospital, but he died at the age of 60.
Legend recently underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his head.
The body of Argentine legend Diego Maradona arrived at the presidential palace in his country after midnight on Wednesday, where he will be sheltered for one day so that his countrymen can take a final look at one of the greatest and most controversial football players.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandes immediately announced mourning for a period of three days, before announcing that the body would be kept for one day instead of the three as previously scheduled in the presidential palace, specifically during the day Thursday between six in the morning and four in the afternoon local time (nine to seven in the timing Greenwich, down at the family’s wish.
His ex-wife Claudia Viavagni and their two daughters Dalma and Ganinia arrived at the presidential palace before midnight on Wednesday-Thursday, in addition to many current and former players, especially his colleagues who lifted the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
The crowd had begun to stand in long lines outside the mansion, Casa Rosada, to have a final look at the legend.
Attorney John Bruyard stated that Maradona died at “12 noon” (15:00 GMT), adding that the primary autopsy results indicated that the cause of death was “secondary acute pulmonary edema and chronic heart failure”.
The No. 10 player had a careful health condition in recent days after he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in early November and was recovering at his home on the outskirts of the capital, Buenos Aires.
At ten in the evening local time, Buenos Aires exploded with chants, trumpets and sirens, and the lights were lit for the man famous for wearing the number 10, after calls spread on social media for “the last applause”, as the honorary celebrations continued during the night in all neighborhoods of the Argentine capital. According to Agence France-Presse correspondents.
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