Investigators are continuing to probe whether a brake problem caused the crash, which killed a 77-year-old man and left more than 20 Brits, including three children, shaken and injured
Survivors of the La Gomera bus tragedy that killed a British pensioner and injured 27 others have described the crash as “like something out of a horror movie”.
All of the victims who have been released from hospital, including three children, are now being supported by consular officials and experts at the island’s Bancal Hotel & Spa. One British couple staying there, who did not want to be named, have described the crash in the Canary Islands “like something out of a horror movie”.
They said they felt “time slowed down” and they “went head over heels twice”. They also added luckily they had their seat belts on, but when the bus stopped they were left hanging from their seats.
READ MORE: Widow of Brit killed in Canary Island bus crash among 27 hospitalisedREAD MORE: Canary Islands bus crash updates: ‘Brake failure’ probe as Brit dead and dozens hurt
The elderly couple reportedly said they felt like they were the lucky ones because they were walking away with just bruises. Other survivors have described the crash as “traumatising and terrifying.”
Their testimony came after we told how the heartbroken widow of the 77-year-old Brit killed in the crash only discovered her husband had died when told by doctors. The woman, thought to have been sitting next to him, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she asked medics: “Where is my husband?”
The man died instantly when the vehicle came off the GM-2 near a bend plunged 50ft into rocks on Friday afternoon. Guacimara Barrera, of La Gomera’s Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, said: “The wife was not aware of this at the scene and when she came to the hospital. She was in shock, and we were very sensitive in [informing her].”
His wife was moved to the Bancal Hotel after leaving hospital, where she is now being cared for. Ms Barrera said: “We decided the best place she could be was with everyone because they are doing therapies to overcome the shock of the accident.”
Guardia Civil traffic officers spent about 90 minutes at the four-star hotel on Saturday gathering witness testimony. Juan Luis Navarro, the Spanish central government’s representative on the island, said: “The hypothesis is that there was a mechanical problem, possibly with the brakes. But we are not sure about that because police must also take declarations from the other people inside the bus.
“They are really emotionally affected, so it will be possibly [Saturday and Sunday] I think they will take more declarations.” Mr Navarro said the survivors were taken to the Bancal Hotel & Spa as they did not want to return to their previous hotel high up in the hills.
To get there, they would have had to travel past the scene of Friday’s tragedy, including the wreckage of the bus, which fell an estimated 50ft below the road. It had been travelling downhill towards the airport at around 1.15pm on Friday when the driver, said to be aged in his 50s, reportedly realised he had a problem with his brakes.
He is said to have tried to pull intoa side road and then a gravel track ina bid to bring the vehicle to a natural stop. But, tragically, the vehicle, owned by La Gomera Tours, collided with a Toyoya pick-up truck and then carried on towards the unfenced edge before plunging down into rocks and foliage.
Some 28 people were onboard at the time. Six, including five Brits, were still in hospital on Saturday afternoon. Three, including a married couple, were being treated at Nuestra Señora, just minutes from the crash site. The three more seriously injured, including the driver, were airlifted to the neighbouring island of Tenerife on Friday for treatment.
Speaking of three people still inthe Nuestra Señora, including at least one person in their 70s, Mr Navarro said: “I think they are getting better.“ There will be more medical testsjust to know how they are exactly.“ Once they see the evolution, the doctors will decide what other tests must be conducted.”
Less than 12 months ago there wasa similar crash on the GM-2 road,which connects the capital San Sebastian with the rest of the mountainous island. In May, a 73-year-old Spanishwoman died and 11 others were injured when a bus overturned on astraight stretch of the road and tumbled down a hill.
La Gomera Tours has said all of itsvehicles are “up to date” with inspections and it was not aware of any incident or complaint from their drivers regarding that stretch of road. A representative has told Spanish media the driver was a local man, experienced and passed the crash spot “virtually every day”.
A spokeswoman for tour operator The Holiday Property Bond said: “Our immediate focus is on the safety and wellbeing of everyone affected. We recognise this is an extremely distressing situation for those involved, as well as for their families and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the tragic incident involving a bus carrying British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands.”
