German goalkeeper Enke (32) dies

German police have confirmed that Hannover and Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke has died.

The 32-year-old is reported to have died near his home in Hannover close to a level crossing.

Hannover’s president Martin Kind confirmed the tragic news tonight.

"I received news of his death around 19:35," he confirmed to the Bild newspaper.

According to police reports, Enke was struck by a train close to his home in Neustadt-Eilvese and died at the scene.

Enke was omitted from the Germany squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Chile, on Saturday, and the Ivory Coast next Wednesday despite having recovered from a virus which had kept him out of action for almost two months.

His national team colleagues learned the tragic news after training in Bonn today.

"We are all shocked," said Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff. "We are lost for words."

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger that he and the rest of the football community in Germany "are deeply distressed and in mourning".

"All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family," he added on the DFB's website.

Enke's daughter Lara died in 2006 of a rare heart condition when she was just two. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter the coupled had adopted.