The fiancee of George Baldock has posted an emotional tribute after the former Sheffield United defender was found dead on Wednesday aged 31.
Baldock, who was of Greek descent and represented Greece at international level, was found dead in the swimming pool of his house in Athens. He was contracted to Panathinaikos at the time of his death.
Local outlets reported that his fiancee had been unable to contact him for several hours, and raised the alarm to the owner of Baldock’s property before the defender was found.
Despite efforts by doctors to revive him, he was pronounced dead. Police say there is no initial indication that the death was suspicious.
On Thursday, a post-mortem ruled his cause of death to have been ‘drowning in water’.
Police confirmed that a specialised team had carried out checks at Baldock’s house ‘in order to exclude the possibility of criminal activity’.
After his death was confirmed, tributes poured in from across the footballing community, including from his former clubs, team-mates and managers.
Now, his fiancee Annabel Dignam – with whom Baldock shared a son, Brody – has posted her own tribute on social media.
She wrote (quotes via The Sun): “George, the love of my life, my soulmate. The perfect dad to our beautiful baby.
“You completed me. You were my world and I know we were yours.
“You are here with me in Brody’s smile, giggle and infectious personality.
“My world will never be the same but I will find a way for Brody. I promise.
“I love you forever and always G. Your Neen. X.”
George Baldock in action for Sheffield United – Getty
On Thursday evening, Greece defeated England 2-1 in a Nations League match at Wembley to record their first-ever victory over the Three Lions.
After the game, the squad paid tribute to Baldock by holding up his Greece shirt for a group photo.
The 31-year-old, who was finally able to switch international allegiance to Greece in 2023 after several years of trying, had not been named in the squad for the international break. He had recently returned from an injury.
Speaking after the game, Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic said: “It was a very special day and match for us. Our thoughts are with George.
“We are professionals and had to play the match. We gave our soul for him tonight. Today is not a day to talk about football. He was part of our team – we will miss him very much.”