A husband seriously injured in the Toledo train disaster begged rescuers to help his wife first after finding himself unable to move beside her in the wreckage.
Antonio Chao and Toñi Barba, both 59, were travelling to Sevilla on a getaway their daughters had given them as a present.
One daughter accompanied them to Madrid’s Atocha station on Wednesday morning. It would be the last time she saw her mother alive.
The couple were sitting beside each other in carriage seven of the AVE that collided with a stationary Iryo service near Urda, reports El Pais.
Antonio survived with serious injuries. Toñi died after the crash, although her family spent more than 24 hours trying to establish where she had been taken.
After regaining consciousness, Antonio checked on his wife, who told him she had pain in her chest and back.
According to his brother-in-law, he tried to shield her from falling debris but discovered he could not move his arms or legs.
When emergency crews reached them, he urged them to prioritise Toñi.
‘Get her out first,’ he pleaded.
The couple were taken away in separate ambulances. Antonio was admitted to intensive care at Toledo’s university hospital and underwent surgery for a spinal injury.
Toñi, who was still conscious, managed to speak to their daughter Sheila from an ambulance with the help of a Guardia Civil officer.
After that call, her family lost track of her. They searched hospitals and assistance centres before receiving confirmation of her death on Thursday afternoon.
Sheila paid tribute to the bond between her parents.
‘My parents loved each other more than anyone in this world. I learnt how to love thanks to them,’ she said.
Antonio remains in intensive care. Relatives said he had regained some movement following surgery but was still unable to move his left arm and leg.
