A young cardiologist has been confirmed among the dead following the tragic train collision in Cordoba.
The family of Jesus Saldaña, 29, confirmed on Tuesday that their days-long search had come to a tragic end.
It comes as the official death toll now stands at 42, although the total number of missing is currently is 43.
Jesus, who worked at the Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, was onboard carriage number eight of the Iryo train on Sunday, heading from his hometown of Malaga back to the capital.
Speaking to Cadena SER, his sister Natalia Saldaña previously said it had been ‘very difficult to communicate with anyone’ and described the situation as ‘desperate’.
According to Natalia, relatives have been ‘going from hospital to hospital across Cordoba’.
Natalia, who is also a doctor and works at the Hospital Regional de Malaga, said she was being supported by colleagues who were using their professional contacts in an attempt to locate any patient matching her brother’s description.
Before the worst of possible news reached her, a brave Natalia said on Monday that ‘hope is the last thing to be lost’.
She explained that she called her brother’s phone as soon as news of the crash appeared on television, but the call was answered by another passenger.
‘She is called Patricia, I don’t know anything else,’ Natalia said.
The woman had Jesus’s phone and remained in contact with the family while trying to help locate him, but without success.
Rail operator Iryo has activated a dedicated helpline for relatives of missing passengers on 900 001 402, while Renfe has made 900 101 020 available.
For information on hospital admissions within Andalucia, families can contact 061; for admissions outside the region, 953 001 149.
Anyone with information about people whose whereabouts remain unknown is urged to contact 112, the National Police on 091, or the Guardia Civil on 062.
