A BRITISH expat who witnessed the death of an expert stuntman in Spain has recalled the heartbreaking moment paramedics broke down after being unable to save him.
Steven Price (pictured above inset), who lives in Torrevieja, said he was one of many spectators watching Carlos Suarez jump from a hot air balloon in Toledo on Tuesday morning.
Suarez was filming a scene for film which involved four other jumpers. They all jumped from the hot air balloon at the same time, but Suarez’s parachute did not open, leading to tragedy.
Steve told the Spanish Eye that the authorities’ response was ‘amazing’, adding that the paramedics spent half an hour trying to revive Carlos.
‘One broke down in the ambulance because he lost him, family and friends were in bits,’ he said.
‘The paramedics were in and out of the ambulance getting different equipment, you could see they were doing their best.
‘They did everything they could, they tried for a good half hour.
‘The police were brilliant, they closed the road off really quickly and got people out of their to give some privacy.’
Spanish production company Atresmedia Cine and Mod Producciones said in a statement: ‘Carlos, a great expert in climbing, skydiving, and base jumping, with many years of experience in these disciplines, was performing jumps with other professionals for the movie La Fiera when the fatal accident occurred.’
It added that the manoeuvres were carried out under the strictest safety measures, before offering condolences to Carlos’s family.
The professional stuntman jumped out of a hot air balloon in Toledo, near the town of La Villa de Don Fadrique.
According to sources from the Castilla-La Mancha 112 Emergency Service, the incident was first reported at 9.12am.
A group of five skydivers were taking part in the jump, with only Carlos not opening his parachute.
The Guardia Civil maintains the death was an accident as the investigation continues.
The incident sparked a significant emergency response from the Guardia Civil, Policia Local and firefighters.
