There is ‘no hope’ of finding Emiliano Sala alive after his plane disappeared in the English Channel on Monday evening, claims a rescue official.

The Cardiff City striker, who joined from Nantes in a club-record £15m deal last week, was aboard a plane on its way to Cardiff before it lost contact near Alderney.

And Chief officer of Channel Islands Air Search John Fitzgerald is negative on the prospect of the Argentine being found.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “Sadly, I really don’t think, personally, there is any hope. At this time of year the conditions out there are pretty horrendous if you are actually in the water.”

Fitzgerald insisted Sala and the pilot, the only other person aboard the flight, would struggle to survive more than a few hours.

He insisted ”even the most fit person” in open water would find it difficult to remain alive.

The latest update from Guernsey Police confirmed the search was still ongoing, but without a trace of the plane, a decision would be made as to whether it will continue later today.

The statement read: “280sq. miles of our targeted search pattern using multiple aircraft from the Channel Islands, France and U.K. has been completed over the last five hours.

“There is as yet no trace today of the missing aircraft.

“The search is ongoing and a decision whether to continue will be taken later today.