Inside George Baldock’s final hours before ex-Premier League star was found dead in Greek swimming pool

George Baldock trained as normal on the day he drowned in his swimming pool – with teammates gathering in shock outside his villa following his death less than 12 hours after they last saw him, it was revealed today.

The ex-Sheffield United defender, 31, who recently joined Panathinaikos, is believed to have been dead for up to five hours before he was discovered at 10.30pm last night.

Today details of his final hours on Wednesday have emerged from the Greek police and in the local press as detectives and the coroner piece together what happened.

George had started Panathinaikos’ 0-0 draw with bitter rivals Olympiacos on Sunday and trained with his team on the morning of his death.

After the session he drove the 13 miles from the training ground close to Athens’ international airport to his beachside rented villa in the exclusive suburb of Glyfada, also home to many of Greece’s biggest stars.

Police are today investigating what happened before his death that afternoon – but multiple sources have said that his partner in the UK had been trying to speak to him on the phone – but he was not answering.

George Baldock in action on Sunday in the local derby with fierce rivals Olympiacos

Baldock waves farewell to the fans ahead of the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane in May before his move to Greece

The footballer moved to Greek club Panathinaikos in the summer and was found dead in his swimming pool on Wednesday

After becoming worried she managed to get hold of the owner of the five-storey property, who found George unresponsive in the swimming pool.

At 10.29pm he alerted the emergency services, who arrived at the scene nine minutes later.

From 10.38pm paramedics attempted to resuscitate the Buckingham-born footballer, who was declared dead shortly afterwards. Police believe he may have been dead for up to five hours before he was found.

A medical examiner was also called to the scene, who found he had no bruises or injuries on his body but was showing signs of having drowned.

Panathinaikos was immediately informed that one of their players had died. Manager Diego Alonso was telephoned by a friend with the news.

The team’s technical director Yiannis Papadimitriou went straight to the property, as did director of football Giorgos Tzavellas and the club doctor Panagiotis Alexandropoulos, according to reports.

Players from the club also went to the house to pay their respects, and reports in Greece say they gathered together outside the property while police investigated inside.

Club legend Zeca, a Portuguese midfielder,  captain Bart Schenkeveld, defender Hörður Björgvin Magnússon, midfielder Tonny Vilhena and Spanish star Rubén Pérez all came to the vigil.

Athens broadsheet Kathimerini claims that a post-mortem examination was completed in the Greek capital today and ‘drowning in water’ has been given as the cause of death by the medical examiner.

Toxicology tests taken during the autopsy – including whether alcohol was present in his system when he died – will take ‘several days’ to come back, it was reported.

But police in Athens have told MailOnline that have already ruled out any criminal activity – including any burglary – related to his sudden death at the age of 31 last night.

Mr Baldock was found unresponsive in his pool after his partner, who was in the UK, reportedly raised the alarm because he was not answering his phone. 

The scene today where former Sheffield United defender George Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool in Athens, Greece

George was living in this property in the Greek capital after a move to club giant Panathinaikos

Emergency services outside the house of British-born Panathinaikos and Greece defender George Baldock, where he was found dead, in the exclusive suburb of Glyfada

Police will be looking at the CCTV from the property to confirm he was alone

A spokesman for Greece’s Hellenic Police said: ‘A forensic pathologist was called to the scene and examined the body with no evidence of criminal activity.

‘The police searched the house to determine if there were any signs of a burglary with a negative result.

‘In addition, a specialized team of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Police carried out a check on the house in order to rule out the possibility of criminal activity’.

A police source told state TV that Buckinghamshire-born George was dead for at least five hours before he was found on Wednesday night.

Athens broadsheet Kathimerini claims that has said that police are examining CCTV from the entrance of the house is being examined to ensure nobody visited the property in the hours before or after his death.

The luxury five-storey property where he died is in the exclusive southern coastal suburb of Glyfada, home to many of Greece ‘s most famous politicians, singers and footballers including some of George’s Panathinaikos teammates, some of whom gathered outside the property last night.

The owner of his luxury property apparently found him unresponsive in the pool. The emergency services were called and arrived in nine minutes, but he could not be revived. 

The cause of death remains unknown today. Police tried cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the 31-year-old former Premier League player but could not revive him and medical emergency units confirmed his death at the scene, one official told Reuters.

His family have said they are in total ‘shock’ over his death. Despite being born in Buckinghamshire, he played for Greece 12 times after qualifying to represent the country through his grandmother. 

‘We can confirm that George has sadly passed away. As a family we are in shock at this terrible loss. We ask please that the media respect our privacy at this time’, his family said in a statement late last night. 

George would have likely played for his country at Wembley against England tonight but was currently injured. Greece have asked UEFA for permission for both teams to wear black armbands for the Nations League fixture at 7.45pm.

Full back Mr Baldock was nicknamed ‘Furious George’ by Sheffield United fans who loved his uncompromising style and win at all costs attitude. Supporters also called him ‘Starman’ – and sung his name to the tune of the song by David Bowie as he ran down the wing.

Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has died aged 31 in Greece, where he was playing for Panathinaikos

Former teammates and friends including Harry Maguire have led tributes to the footballer – with the former Manchester United captain simply posting ‘RIP’, alongside a broken heart emoji.

Baldock joined Panathinaikos in the summer after spending seven celebrated seasons with the Blades, where he was dubbed ‘Furious George’, in the Premier League and Championship.

He started his career at MK Dons and playing in all of England’s top five divisions. 

He missed out on Greece’s most recent squad, which is due to play England in the Nations League at Wembley on Thursday, after suffering an injury which ruled him out of games in September. 

Baldock’s partner reportedly tried to contact him for several hours without a response, before she got in touch with the owner of his villa in Glyfada, a suburb south of Athens.  

After searching the suburban property, they found Baldock in the communal pool and called the emergency services.

He was reportedly in the water for several hours before he was found, according to images seen by the response unit. 

A heartbroken Sheffield United paid tribute to their former player as they announced the news to their fans. 

‘Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock,’ they posted on X.

‘The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him. 

‘The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.’

A heartbroken Sheffield United paid tribute to their former player as they announced the news to their fans

Northampton Town, where he played five games on loan, wrote on X: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31’

And his boyhood club, MK Dons, said they were ‘devastated’ to hear the news, in an emotional post as they said he ‘will always be one of our own’

England football’s official account said they were ‘extremely saddened’ after hearing the news

England defender Harry Maguire was among the first to react, writing ‘RIP’ on Instagram 

Northampton Town, where he played five games on loan, wrote on X: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31. 

‘Sending our sincerest condolences to George’s family and friends.’ 

Panathinaikos appears to have blacked out their logo on their social media in a subtle tribute. 

And his boyhood club, MK Dons, said they were ‘devastated’ to hear the news, in an emotional post as they said he ‘will always be one of our own’.

They said: ‘We are deeply devastated and saddened to learn about the shocking news of former Academy graduate and MK Dons player, George Baldock. 

‘George started his career at Stadium MK, where he worked his way through the youth ranks and made his senior career debut at the Club before reaching the heights of the Premier League in later years. 

‘Everyone affiliated with MK Dons shares a great love for George, Sam and the Baldock family, and we would like to share our sincerest condolences during these awful times. 

‘You will always be one of our own, George.’

Baldock, 31, was starting a new life in Greece before he passed away

The defender acquired the nickname ‘Furious George’ due to his aggressive style

Also responding to the news, England football’s official account said they were ‘extremely saddened’. 

They continued: ‘We’re extremely saddened by the passing of George Baldock.

‘George was close to many of our players, and represented Greece – our opponents on Thursday night. We’re thinking of George’s family, friends and team-mates at club and country at this difficult time.’

The English Football League added that he made a ‘lasting impact’, with his time at Sheffield United, Oxford United, Northampton Town and MK Dons.

The Greece Super League further shared their ‘deepest condolences’ following the news.

They said: ‘The entire Super League football family expresses its deep sorrow for the untimely loss of Panathinaikos and our National Team footballer, George Baldock, and extends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.’ 

Baldock was long a mainstay of English football, amassing 219 appearances at Sheffield United alone. 

He twice won promotion to the Premier League with the Yorkshire outfit. 

After his partner was unable to contact him, the owner of the villa searched the property and found him in the pool 

Baldock played in the Premier League and Championship with Sheffield United for seven years

At Bramall Lane he earned the nickname ‘Furious George’ due to his combative, aggressive style on the pitch. 

‘Since I came to this club, I quickly realised that the tougher the opposition, the more you had to find a way to get an edge over your opponent,’ he once told the Sheffield Star.

‘To be honest, I really enjoy it. Plus, I just love winning. I hate losing and I even hate drawing. 

Even when we’re playing pool in the rec area at training, that competitive streak comes out. 

‘The only trouble is, when it comes to potting balls instead of kicking them, I’m not particularly good at it.’

Baldock had only made four appearances for Panathinaikos, including one in the Europa League – a new adventure for a player whose experiences had mostly been confined to domestic football.