Julia Ituma tragedy: Could she have been pushed?
It came like a rude shock not only to her family but also to her teammates and safe to say to her compatriots both in Nigeria and Italy.
Eighteen year old Italian-Nigerian volleyball star, Julia Ituma died last Thursday after allegedly falling out of her sixth-floor room at the the Vally Hotel in Instanbul, Turkey.
According to the UK Daily Mail, the incident happened on 13th April Thursday morning, hours after her team Igor Gorgonzola Novara, got knocked out by Turkish side Eczacibas in the Champions League semi-final.
She was said to have been sharing the room with a fellow teammate before her death.
Born in 2005 in Milan to Nigerian parents, Ituma started playing volleyball at the age of 11.
Last year, she won a gold medal at the European Championship and the European Youth Olympic Festival with the Italian U-19 national team.
Turkish police said “The body of the Italian-born athlete of Nigerian origin was discovered at 5:30 am local time in front of the hotel, Turkish daily Daily Sabah reported.
Her club announced, “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,” the Italian club added.
“We are all dismayed by this tragedy which affects not only the volleyball world but all of Italian sport,” Italian Volleyball Federation President Giuseppe Manfredi said in a statement.
“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.”
With a height of 1.92 metres, Ituma was considered one of the most promising players for the future.
Her body has since been sent for forensic examination to determine the cause of the tragic death.
Though report of what actually caused this tragic death that cut the life of this young athlete short is being awaited some Italian and Turkish media have insinuated that suicide may not be ruled out. What could ginger promising young volleyball star only in her first season with Novara after leaving Club Italia to contemplate suicide? Could she have been pushed off the window? Has the club’s ouster from the European Champions League anything to do with it?
A number of fans who reacted so far following the incident are far from believing that it could be a case of suicide or accident alleging instead that “she must have been pushed”
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One fan @I_am_Blazzer asked who pushed her… It’s a hotel… Check the CCTV footage of the last person that left the room after the incident”
@Backstreetboy86 asked “She fall abi they push her? @Adatina14 equally queried “Abi they push am how did she fall? @Kaogupaul wondered what has become of sportsmanship if she committed suicide for losing a match submitting “This lady committed suicide over losing a volleyball game😢 Sportsmanship is not always about winning, but being a good loser too”
No doubt to underscore that Ituma’s tragic death will require thorough investigation is to put it mildly.
Hopefully after full investigation by concerned authorities the real truth about this unfortunate incident will be revealed.
What a way to go!