Two British passengers and the local driver remain in hospital, but all of the other survivors of the La Gomera crash have now been released and are attempting to make arrangements to return home
Another British survivor of the La Gomera bus horror has been released from hospital, authorities have revealed.
Just two passengers and the driver are now being treated by doctors on the neighbouring island of Tenerife where they were airlifted after the crash, which also killed a 77-year-old Briton and injured a total of 27 others, including three children. The Canarian Government’s Ministry of Health today said one of the three remaining hospital patients is showing positive signs of recovery, while the other two remain in a stable but serious condition.
The bus today remains on mountainside below the island’s GM-2 road, where it fell after colliding with a Totoya pick-up truck and falling an estimated 65ft into rocks and shrubbery below at around 1.15pm on Friday. The Toyota was today removed from the scene on a low loader.
READ MORE: Widow asked medics where husband was and had no idea he had died in La Gomera bus crashREAD MORE: Brit survivors of La Gomera bus tragedy compare crash scene to ‘horror movie’
Juan Luis Navarro, the Spanish central government’s representative on the island, told the Mirror the bus’ owners La Gomera Tours, are still making arrangements to move the bus. Meanwhile, Britain’s ambassador to Spain Sir Alex Ellis thanked Mr Navarro, as well as other officials, including Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo, and emergency workers, for their help in dealing with the crash.
In a message posted on X on Monday afternoon, he wrote: “My thanks to @FClavijoBatlle, @CurbeloCasimiro, Island Director Juan Luis Navarro, @112Canarias and my consular colleagues for their continued and exemplary support for the GB nationals involved in the accident in La Gomera. My thoughts remain with all those affected.”
Police are still carrying out interviews with the bus passengers, who were all British, but have not been able to quiz the driver due to his condition, described by medics as serious. They are also analysing the bus tachograph to find out vital information, including its speed, at the time of the crash, following reports the driver realised he had a problem with his brakes just before it happened.
Mr Navarro has said he believes the driver, reportedly aged 63, was trying to stop the vehicle by attempting to hit two palm trees near the edge of the cliff, but the coach fell off the end of the gravel track near the road. Speaking about the investigation, which he hopes may be completed later this week, he today said: “Police are still in the process of taking testimonies.”
Mr Navarro had earlier warned: “We have to be very patient because not all the passengers are in the same position to collaborate or cooperate. We have to go little by little approaching them. I understand the bus rolled two or three times. I don’t know for sure because there are many expert analysis the Civil Guard has to carry out.”
It was unclear today if police have yet been able to interview the widow of the 77-year-old Brit killed in the crash. She has been given expert help by psychologists since the crash while trying to come to terms with her loss. Tragically, she only discovered her husband had died when told by doctors after being taken to hospital, where she asked: “Where is my husband?”
Survivors, who were travelling on the bus to La Gomera’s Port to travel to Tenerife for flights home at the time of the crash, are now trying to make new arrangements to make their way home to Britain. Some were today being supported at the island’s Bancal Hotel & Spa by British consulate officials and Richard Wheeler, of Holiday Property Bond, the firm that manages the apartments where they had been staying.
It is understood the ongoing probe and a lack of available seats on flights back to the UK from the neighbouring island of Tenerife has complicated some of their plans. Speaking about their ordeal earlier this week, one survivor told a fellow hotel guest: “We thought we were all going to die. It was terrifying.” Another passenger said: “It is a miracle we survived. It was awful the man died. His wife is distraught.”
An elderly British couple, who did not want to be named, also reportedly described the crash as like “something out of a horror movie”. They said time slowed down and they “went head over heels twice”. They added they had seatbelts on, but when the bus stopped they were left hanging from their seats, and felt lucky to walk away only with bruises.
Speaking today, José Ángel Hernández, General Secretary of the Canary Islands Transport Federation, expressed his “absolute dismay” at the tragedy. In an interview with the digital programme ‘A Buenas Horas… con José Luis Martín’, aired by Europa Press, he described the incident as an “unfortunate event” and urged for “caution” while the investigation by the Civil Guard is underway.
Mr Hernandez said: “Regardless of whether the company followed protocols, whether the driver was at fault, or if there was any attribution to our sector, we are profoundly affected because we provide the safety and peace of mind for our passengers, and such misfortunes hit us hard”.
Mr Hernandez said an initial examination suggests a potential brake failure may have prevented the driver from controlling the vehicle and claimed bus transport is “the safest mode” of transport and only draws attention when an accident like this one occurs, which is rare. He said accidents between cars happen “every day” and added: “Ideally, we would never be in the news, but statistically, we know it’s inevitable.”
