National footballer Neil Hernandez died as a result of smoke inhalation, according to the post-mortem report yesterday.

Hernandez’s charred body was pulled from the Bartica home he once shared with his former girlfriend on Monday shortly after midday. It was widely reported that the footballer set fire to the home then took his own life following a domestic row.

There was much speculation in relation to how he died and initial reports suggested a gun was involved. But no evidence of any of this came out in the report. From all indications it appeared that Hernandez locked himself in the home, set the place on fire and subsequently died in the blaze.

Hernandez’s family had rejected reports of him committing suicide arguing that many things did not seem right about his death. They said the post mortem was the only certain way of concluding what happened.

When Stabroek News spoke to his sister on Monday she said the footballer was not suicidal and that such behaviour was very unlike him. She said there were various stories surrounding what happened to her brother, and these raised suspicion. Hernandez’s mother was also in doubt over her son’s death and had called for a thorough investigation into what happened.

Yesterday the family said they had no choice but to accept the report and move on. The footballer’s brother, Uzzil Hernandez said the family still felt uncomfortable about some things regarding his death but had accepted the report. He said the pathologist was the one who conducted the examination and was the expert, adding that the family could only note what appeared to the naked eye.

On the day he died the footballer had an encounter with his former girlfriend that resulted in her making a report to the police station. She said he had broken into her home and was there without her permission. According to her, Hernandez had always threatened to take his life if they were to separate. Their more than one year relationship ended three weeks ago.

She recalled visiting her home on the day in question in the company of two police officers. She said from all appearances Hernandez had locked himself in and had set the place on fire because shortly after they arrived smoke was spotted coming from inside.

Hernandez, who played with the Fruta Conquerors Football team and had once led the national side, is to be buried on Christmas Eve day. His body will leave the city on Monday for Bartica where the burial will take place.