Former pro soccer player Santiago Otero dies in freak accident

A former professional Spanish soccer player was found dead in his Madrid bathtub after a freak accident.

Santiago Otero Gonzalez, 38, was discovered Saturday by his wife after she returned from working a night shift, according to reports. His cell phone, which was plugged into a charger, was found in the water.

Local reports said the father of two had a burn mark on his chest where his phone was found, and was likely electrocuted although authorities said they were still investigating.

Known by his nickname Santi in northern Spain, where he was born, Gonzalez had retired from professional soccer after playing as a center forward for several clubs.

Union Deportivo Folgueiro, one of his former teams, tweeted after learning of the accident: “Today is a sad day for our football family due to the death of our former player. He was a great companion and a friend to us all, who brightened up our afternoons with his goals and laughter.”