It has been nearly a year and a half since one of the greatest tragedies in football history occurred, shocking the whole world.

Chapecoense, a Brazilian outfit based in the city of Chapeco, were travelling to Colombia aboard LaMia Flight 2933, to contest one of the biggest matches in their 43-year history.

However, their trip ended in disaster.

After running out of fuel and the pilot failing to declare an emergency landing, the plane carrying the Brazilian side crashed before it reached its destination, claiming the lives of 71 out of 77 people on board.

The Brazilian club was devastated due to the incident. Of the Chapecoense players on board, nineteen passed away, leaving just three survivors: Alan Ruschel, Jakson Follmann and Neto.

Follmann was forced to retire due to injuries sustained in the crash, but both Ruschel and Neto were miraculously able to return for their club after recovering from their injuries.

RUSCHEL IS MAKING THE NEWS

Ruschel did not emerge unscathed from the crash; suffering a back injury that required surgery.

But, miraculously, he managed to return to training just six months after the accident, and was then  able to return to competitive football in August 2017.

And now some great news emerged about the left back earlier on Wednesday.

Despite only being able to participate in four games last year, Ruschel has been given a new contract by Chapecoense, keeping him at the club until 2020.

And club director Rui Costa praised the 28-year-old in a press conference, stating: "Ruschel is the living proof of Chape's reconstruction. We want him here for many years."

What fantastic news for Ruschel. It's been a long journey for him since the accident, but it's great to see him being rewarded for his services to the club.

RUSCHEL CANNOT REMEMBER CRASH

When reflecting on the crash just a month after the left-back admitted he could not remember anything about the accident itself, but revealed how he swapped seats during the flight; ultimately saving his life.

“I don’t remember anything about the accident,” Ruschel said in December 2016.

“When they told me what happened it seemed like a dream, a nightmare. Little by little they’ve been telling me what happened and I’m starting to understand. I try not to speak of the accident.

“Cadu Gaucho asked me to sit further forward and let the journalists sit together at the back. I didn’t want to but then I saw Jackson Follman and he insisted I sit beside him. Only God can explain why I survived the accident. He grabbed me and gave me a second chance.”