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Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash survivor Alexander Galimov dies in Moscow hospital

Alexander Galimov, Liro Tarkki

FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2010 file photo Russia’s Alexander Galimov, left, tries to score against Finland’s goalkeeper Liro Tarkki during their Channel One Cup ice hockey match in Moscow, Russia. A Russian jet carrying a top ice hockey team crashed just after takeoff Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, killing at least 43 people, and leaving two others critically injured. Officials said Galimov survived the crash along with a crewmember. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, File)

AP

The Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery announced that Alexander Galimov died at a Moscow hospital on Monday, Sept. 12. The International Ice Hockey Federation confirmed the sad news as many in the hockey world hoped that he might beat the odds and survive that terrible event. He was 26 years old.

Galimov was one of two initial survivors of the horrific plane crash that decimated the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on September 7. Galimov had been the only player who survived the crash, with Alexander Sizov being the one crew member who is still alive. Sizov is currently listed in “serious but stable” condition.

Galimov suffered burns to at least 80 percent of his body from the crash. Galimov and Sizov were transported to a Moscow hospital on September 8, where Galimov entered a medically-induced coma. It was revealed that Galimov died during surgery early on Monday. The total number of deaths related to that tragedy is now at 44 people.

“On September 12, in the morning, despite continuting therapy using all possible contemporary treatment, Alexander Galimov died from severe burns in the burn center of the Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery,” the statement said.

Galimov’s hockey career at a glance

Galimov played parts of seven seasons for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, including seasons before they joined the KHL. Galimov played 341 games overall for the team, scoring 126 points and compiling 280 penalty minutes.

During the last two seasons, Galimov’s playoff performances were significantly better than his regular season outputs. He scored 25 points in 52 regular season games in 2009-10, yet he scored 14 points in 16 playoff games. He maintained a similar pattern last season, scoring 31 points in 53 regular season games before scoring 14 points in 18 postseason contests. Galimov won a silver medal with Russian’s under-20 team at the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships.
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Cam Charron points out a heartbreaking fact: Galimov scored Lokomotiv’s last goal. The hockey world was holding out hope that he would find a way to pull through that tragedy, but now our hearts go out to his family and friends.