Victims of a bus accident that resulted in the death of a British retiree in the Canary Islands describe the scene as resembling a ‘horror film,’ with passengers remaining ‘upside down by their seatbelts.’
A crowded tour bus swerved off the road at a curve on La Gomera on Friday afternoon and plunged 100 feet into a ravine.
A 77-year-old British individual lost his life in the event. Twenty-seven other people were injured and transported to the hospital, among them two British men, aged 73 and 42, who experienced ‘severe multiple injuries.’
All survivors—comprising three minors—have now been discharged from the hospital and are currently being assisted by diplomatic representatives and specialists at the island’s Bancal Hotel & Spa.
A British couple residing at the hotel — who preferred to stay unidentified — described the accident as “something straight out of a horror film.”
They mentioned they experienced a sensation where ‘time moved more slowly’ during the event, and that they ‘tumbled upside down twice’.
The couple mentioned that fortunately they were wearing their seatbelts, but when the bus stopped, they found themselves dangling from their seats.
Other crash survivors – whose bus fell 50ft into rocks – described the event as ‘disturbing and frightening’.
A different survivor shared with a hotel visitor that it was a ‘miracle’ they lived through the event, while another remarked, ‘We believed we were all going to perish.’
The travelers were heading to the harbor in San Sebastian de La Gomera to board a ferry bound for Tenerife in order to return to Britain when the bus left the road.
Inquiries are still in progress, but it is believed that a brake malfunction led to the accident.
Spanish authorities are currently reviewing the coach’s ‘black box’ device, but have not yet been able to speak with the driver, who sustained severe injuries.
By Sunday afternoon, the driver—a local individual thought to be in his 50s—is receiving medical care at a hospital on the nearby island of Tenerife.
Juan Luis Navarro, Spain’s representative on the Canary Islands, stated that the driver “attempted to resist” from the moment he noticed the brake malfunction.
He mentioned that the Civil Guard has started questioning passengers on the doomed vehicle, but noted that “not all passengers are in the same position to cooperate or assist.”
Mr. Navarro stated that, to his knowledge, there was a “rollover and the bus rolled for several meters, sliding down the slope.”
He stated, “It likely rolled at least once or twice since the bus ended up resting in a crooked position. It was lying on its side.”
I realize it rolled two or three times. I am not certain because there are numerous expert analyses that the Civil Guard needs to conduct.
Mr. Navarro stated that it was “very important” for the Civil Guard to question the wife of the deceased British individual.
It is known that she was sitting next to him when the accident occurred, and only learned that her husband had died while in the hospital.
La Gomera Tours, the company that owns and operates the bus, stated after the incident that all their vehicles were “current” with inspections and they had no knowledge of any incidents or complaints from their drivers about that section of the road.
A spokesperson shared with Spanish media that the driver is seasoned and regularly passes the location of the accident ‘almost daily’.
Nevertheless, the accident is not a standalone event on that specific section of the road.
Last year, a 73-year-old Spanish woman lost her life and 11 people were hurt after a public bus flipped over on the same stretch of road.
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