Helio Hermito Zampier Neto was on the ill-fated flight with his Chapecoense Real teammates when it crashed in Medellin, Colombia killing 71 people.

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The Chapecoense team was on their way to play in the first leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.

The 31-year-old defender is among the five survivors of the plane crash and his father has revealed that doctors are optimistic that he will be able to continue his career.

"My son is getting better and better. He has just undergone surgery on his leg and doctors say he will return to football," he said.

"We shall continue praying because we still need his discharge from hospital to see him closely."

Doctors said 24-year-old goalkeeper Jakson Ragnar Follmann would not lose his left leg, after having his right one amputated.

Another Chapecoense player who survived, Alan Ruschel has had spinal surgery, while but his movements were not affected, they added that journalist Rafael Henzel is now stable.

Crew members Ximena Suarez and Erwin Tumiri were said to be in good condition.

The bodies of the dead were flown out of Medellin to Brazil on Friday, December 2.