British Survivors Compare La Gomera Bus Tragedy to Horror Movie Scene
Survivors of the devastating bus crash on the Spanish island of La Gomera have described the incident as "like something out of a horror movie," with British tourists recounting terrifying moments as their vehicle plunged off a mountain pass. The tragedy claimed the life of a 77-year-old British man and left more than twenty other Britons, including three children, injured and shaken.
Survivors' Harrowing Accounts of the Crash
One British couple, who have chosen to remain anonymous while staying at the Bancal Hotel & Spa where survivors are being supported, provided chilling details of the accident. They reported feeling as though "time slowed down" during the crash, experiencing the sensation of going "head over heels twice" before the bus came to a stop.
"We were left hanging from our seats when the bus finally stopped," the couple revealed. "Luckily we had our seat belts on, but it was absolutely terrifying. We feel like the lucky ones because we walked away with just bruises, but others weren't so fortunate."
Other survivors have characterized the experience as "traumatizing and terrifying," with many still processing the emotional impact of the incident that occurred on Friday afternoon along the GM-2 road near a bend.
Investigation Focuses on Potential Brake Failure
Spanish authorities are continuing their investigation into whether mechanical problems, specifically brake failure, caused the tragic accident. Juan Luis Navarro, the Spanish central government's representative on La Gomera, stated that "the hypothesis is that there was a mechanical problem, possibly with the brakes" but emphasized that police must still gather more witness testimony.
"They are really emotionally affected," Navarro explained regarding the survivors. "So it will be possibly Saturday and Sunday I think they will take more declarations."
Guardia Civil traffic officers spent approximately ninety minutes at the four-star Bancal Hotel gathering witness accounts on Saturday as part of their ongoing investigation.
Tragic Details Emerge About Victim's Family
The heartbroken widow of the 77-year-old British man killed in the crash only discovered her husband had died when informed by medical staff at a nearby hospital. The woman, believed to have been seated beside her husband during the accident, was taken to Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe where she asked medics: "Where is my husband?"
Guacimara Barrera of La Gomera's Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe explained: "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]."
The widow has since been moved to the Bancal Hotel where she is receiving care alongside other survivors. Barrera noted that "the best place she could be was with everyone because they are doing therapies to overcome the shock of the accident."
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
The bus, owned by La Gomera Tours, was traveling downhill toward the airport at approximately 1:15 PM on Friday when the driver, described as a local man in his 50s who passes the crash location "virtually every day," reportedly realized he had a problem with his brakes.
According to witness accounts and preliminary investigations, the driver attempted to pull into a side road and then a gravel track in an effort to bring the vehicle to a natural stop. Tragically, the bus collided with a Toyota pick-up truck before continuing toward the unfenced edge of the road and plunging an estimated fifty feet down into rocks and foliage.
The vehicle was left partly crumpled with all windows smashed following the impact. Some twenty-eight people, all British tourists except for the Spanish driver, were onboard at the time of the accident.
Medical Status of Those Injured
As of Saturday afternoon, six individuals including five Britons remained hospitalized. Three patients, including a married couple, were being treated at Nuestra Señora hospital just minutes from the crash site. Three more seriously injured individuals, including the driver, were airlifted to the neighboring island of Tenerife for specialized treatment on Friday.
Navarro provided an update on those still hospitalized: "I think they are getting better. There will be more medical tests just to know how they are exactly. Once they see the evolution, the doctors will decide what other tests must be conducted."
Tour Operator and Government Responses
La Gomera Tours has stated that all of its vehicles are "up to date" with inspections and that the company was not aware of any incidents or complaints from drivers regarding that particular stretch of road. A representative emphasized that the driver was experienced and familiar with the route.
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 expressed her condolences, stating: "My thoughts are with those affected by the tragic incident involving a bus carrying British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands."
Historical Context of Road Safety Concerns
This tragic incident follows another serious crash on the same GM-2 road less than twelve months ago. In May of the previous year, a 73-year-old Spanish woman died and eleven others were injured when a bus overturned on a straight stretch of the road and tumbled down a hill.
The GM-2 road connects the capital San Sebastian with the rest of the mountainous island, presenting challenging driving conditions that have now been the site of two serious accidents within a year.
All survivors who have been released from hospital are now being supported by consular officials and trauma experts at the Bancal Hotel & Spa. Authorities relocated them to this location as they did not want to return to their previous hotel high up in the hills, which would have required them to travel past the scene of Friday's tragedy and the wreckage of the bus.
