Chapecoense crash survivor Alan Ruschel switched seats on doomed Colombia flight at last minute
Star of Brazilian team wiped out in horror crash had to be ordered to sit by Jackson Follman, the keeper who also survived
A CHAPECOENSE player who survived the plane crash that wiped out his team changed seats on the doomed flight at the last minute.
Alan Ruschel, who thanked God for saving him when the plane carrying the side crashed in Colombia, was sitting near the back when he was told to move.
The full-back was with journalists at the rear when club director Cadu Gaucho asked him to switch seats - unwittingly saving his life.
Ruschel said: "Cadu Gaucho asked me to sit further forward and let the journalists sit together at the back.
"I didn't want to but then I saw Jackson Follman and he insisted that I sit beside him.
"Only God can explain why I survived the accident. He grabbed me and gave me a second chance."
Ruschel, 27, recently shared footage of him walking for the first time since the tragic accident.
He was one of just six survivors from the wreckage, which killed 71 people in all.
Goalkeeper Follman, one of Ruschel's best friends on the team, also survived.
But he had to have part of his leg amputated and was transferred from Sao Paulo to a hospital in Chapecoense's home city on Saturday.
Ruschel added: "I don't remember anything about the accident.
"When they told me what happened it seemed like a dream, nightmare.
"Little by little they've been telling me what happened and I'm starting to understand.
"I try not to speak about the accident, I avoid the news, but from the little I've seen I think it was greed on the pilot's part."
The pilot of the Bolivian-run LAMIA plane, Miguel Quiroga, has been accused of taking off without enough fuel for the flight.
Ruschel has now promised to return to Colombia to give the doctors who treated him a huge barbeque.
He also pledged to visit every one of the families of his compatriots who died before returning to the small town of Chapeco and continuing with the physiotherapy he needs to get fit again.
Ruschel said: "As a lesson, this tragedy teaches that you have to keeping living. Take advantage of some things and do good for others.
"When I got here today I had the sensation that I was coming home. I promise to give lots more happiness to this team. With a lot of effort and hard work I am going to be back playing again soon."