Three Greek Survivors of Spain Train Disaster Return Home

Three Greek tourists who survived the deadly train disaster in Toledo, Spain, returned to Greece on Friday evening, 30 October, shaken by their experience but relieved to be home. The crash claimed 69 lives.

For the family, what began as a holiday journey to Seville turned into a terrifying ordeal within seconds.

According to Greece’s ERT public broadcaster, the family arrived at Athens International Airport on Friday evening.

The mother, who suffered a fractured collarbone, arrived in a wheelchair accompanied by her two sons, Marios, 21, and Christos, 18. The family says the traumatic moments surrounding the collision will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

The younger son, Christos, explained how a last-minute change of seat may have saved his life.

“During the journey, my brother and my mother got up to go to the bar to get breakfast. My brother was sitting by the window, and I was immediately to his left. When he and my mother got up, I changed seats and moved to the window,” the 18-year-old said.

The decision proved crucial.

“A few minutes later, the collision happened. I fell onto the seat in front of me, while the seat immediately beside mine was thrown forward. It travelled at least a metre, and that is essentially how I survived,” he added.

Shortly before the family managed to reunite and escape the wreckage, the mother and her eldest son had gone to the train’s restaurant carriage to get breakfast. They were waiting for their order when the impact threw them from their positions.

“The force of the impact threw us around, with passengers falling on top of one another. The restaurant carriage derailed and tilted at an angle of 30 degrees,” 21-year-old Marios told El País.

The family has expressed gratitude for the medical treatment and personal support they received following the disaster.

(Source: AMNA)

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