Joao in his St Clement football kit

AN appeal has been launched to help the devastated family of a Jersey schoolboy who died in a freak shooting accident while visiting relatives in South America.

Joao Calaça-Sousa (8), a pupil at St John’s Primary School, died of gunshot wounds just hours after arriving at his aunt’s house in Venezuela with his mother Louisa and father Roberto. It is believed that he suffered the fatal injuries while playing in the property near the Venezuelan capital Caracas. No more details of the tragedy have been released.

Today, Mr Sousa’s colleagues at the Jersey branch of Europcar launched an appeal to raise £15,000 to help the family repatriate Joao’s body to Madeira. The tragedy has devastated staff at the hire car firm.

Guy Plante, managing director of Europcar in the Channel Islands, said: ‘What happened is an absolute tragedy and everyone here is devastated, particularly the Portuguese boys who are all from the same area of Madeira as Roberto.’

Islanders who want to donate to the appeal can pay directly into the Europcar – Joao Calaça-Sousa Fund at any HSBC branch, citing sort code 40-25-34 and account number 32345277 or they can pay online using the same details. Cheques made payable to Europcar – Joao Calaça-Sousa Fund to the Europcar branch at the Airport.