Voted Best
ISSUE NO. 1764
25 April -1 May 2019
Newspaper in Spain 2017 & 2018
A XARQUÍA - C OSTA T ROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
Credit: Google Maps
Gas leak compensation TRAGIC ACCIDENT: Jose Manuel died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a hotel (pictured) in Cantabria.
by Sally Underwood THE family of a man who died following a gas leak at a Spanish hotel has received €320,000 compensation. The 62-year-old victim from La Cala del Moral had been on a group holiday in Cantabria with a pensioners’ association in 2017 when 21 people were affected by carbon monoxide poisoning at a hotel. Jose Manuel was on an annual tour with the group, visiting Madrid, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Guernica, and Bermeo. On the fourth day of the trip, the group toured Santander before spending the night at the Campomar de Isla
hotel in Cantabria. The victim and his wife went to sleep in their hotel room unaware carbon monoxide caused by a faulty boiler was entering their bathroom. The couple’s room was the most affected by the leak. At breakfast the next morning, other members of the group raised the alarm after noticing the couple were missing. Jose Manuel was later found in his room in car-
diorespiratory arrest. Health workers were able to resuscitate him before he was transferred to the Valdecilla Hospital. Doctors said nothing more could be done to save Jose Manuel, however, and life support was withdrawn. The majority of the total 92 people affected by the carbon monoxide poisoning, including Jose Manuel’s travelling companions, suffered less se-
rious health consequences, although several were treated in Intensive Care. A law firm representing seven people from Malaga affected in the incident, as well as the relatives of Jose Manuel, has announced the hotel’s insurer has agreed to compensate the victims. In addition to the €320,000 received by Jose Manuel’s family, other victims received €100,000.
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Stabbing trial PROSECUTORS have asked for seven-and-a-half years in prison for a man accused of a stabbing in Almuñecar. The alleged incident on August 28, 2016, is said to have taken place following an altercation near a bar in the town’s Paseo del Altillo. Two men, Ramon CG and Ramon FF, are said to have approached the victim as he stood with two male and two female friends. The suspects are said to have begun arguing with the two women before the victim tried to calm the situation down. Ramon FF is then accused of punching the alleged victim, claiming he would not hurt the girls but would instead harm the man. The man then reportedly left the area with his two male friends before being followed by the two suspects. After catching him up, Ramon CG allegedly pulled out a large knife before stabbing the alleged victim twice in the stomach. The Public Prosecutor said the accused carried out the stabbing “with the intention of taking his life.” The victim was later taken to hospital and medics were able to save his life. Ramon CG is on trial for attempted murder and faces seven-and-a-half years in prison, as well as an order not to come within 300 metres of the alleged victim for 15 years following his release. The ot her suspect , Ram on FF, f aces a f i ne of €1,350 for verbal assault.