Chucho Benitez is having its wake in Quito

With songs, cheers and tears, the body of the Ecuadorian striker Christian “Chucho” Benitez, who died last Monday over an alleged cardiac arrest, arrived today from Qatar to the Tababela airport in Quito, at 02:00 am, and the Rumiñahui Colosseum has opened its gates for the wake of the soccer star.

Chucho’s followers received him in Tababela.

Chucho’s followers placed flowers on top of the car that carried his casket.

The thousands of fans who want to say goodbye to Chucho will have 10 seconds each to do so. They may not take pictures or record the interior of the Coliseum or  “Chucho” himself, as the family wants him to be reminded with the joy that characterized him.

Family members and friends carried the casket to the center of the Rumiñahui Colosseum.

Chucho’s friends and family cry before his open casket.

The President, Rafael Correa canceled the itinerant cabinet scheduled for today in the East, and is estimated to visit the Rumiñahui Colosseum at 18:30.

Chucho suffered a serious heart condition.

With the presence of four medical specialists, a second autopsy was performed on Chucho’s body, which revealed that the player suffered from a degenerative coronary disease, according to Luis Chiriboga, president of the Ecuadorian Soccer Federation (FEF).

“Chucho Benitez was destined to die … he had a heart disease that could only be discovered after his death, only an autopsy could discover it,” said Chiriboga.