Emiliano Sala’s father has died, months after the footballer died in a plane crash in the English Channel, a politician has said.

Horacio Sala, 58, died at his home in Progreso in Argentina’s Santa Fe province, local media reported on Friday.

The 28-year-old Argentinian footballer, who had signed for Cardiff City, disappeared with David Ibbotson, the pilot of the Piper Malibu, after it crashed in the waters north of Guernsey on 21 January.

The Progreso mayor, Julio Muller, told the radio station La Red of Mr Sala’s death. “The partner of Horacio called me at five in the morning. The doctors were already there. When he left his home, he had already died,” Mr Muller said, according to local media reports. “He could never get over Emi’s death.” Mr Muller cited “a heart problem” for the father’s death.

Emiliano Sala’s body was recovered on 6 February after a private search, but Ibbotson, 59, of Crowle, Lincolnshire, is still missing.

The father said he was “desperate” after the underwater search found the crashed aircraft. “I cannot believe it. This is a dream. A bad dream. I am desperate,” Mr Sala told local broadcaster Cronica TV.