SWITZERLAND: A Belgian psychologist helping Swiss crash survivors recover says that the young patients are trying to come to terms with the tragedy

Record ID: 382793

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: A Belgian psychologist helping Swiss crash survivors recover says that the young patients are trying to come to terms with the tragedy
  • Date: 16th March 2012
  • Summary: SION, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 15, 2012) (REUTERS) MEDIA AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE SURVIVORS OF SWISS BUS CRASH ARE RECUPERATING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELGIAN PSYCHOLOGIST ASSISTING TEAM IN SWITZERLAND, MICHAEL CALLEN, SAYING: "They'll survive, they have of course difficulty to place this all. We are talking to them, they are talking to each other and they are talking with their children. So it's like a big family who are supported with a very good help here of the people, the professionals of the hospital and also our Belgian team." MEDIA SURROUNDING CALLEN AND ASKING HIM QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (French) BELGIAN PSYCHOLOGIST ASSISTING TEAM IN SWITZERLAND, MICHAEL CALLEN, SAYING: "There's a team of psychologists assisting us but when the children ask us what has happened and how, we have to tell them very gently the truth. That's the opinion the psychologists give, that we can't hide it. The children know naturally or at least they realise more and more what's happened." CALLEN TALKING TO MEDIA
  • Embargoed: 31st March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland, Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVABZSPGI3LERWKTMUDIOQJEO6T5
  • Story Text: A Belgian psychologist who is working with the young survivors of the tunnel bus crash in Switzerland said on Thursday (March 15) that the injured were recuperating and trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
    Twenty-two children and six others died on their way back from a ski trip when their bus crashed into a wall in a tunnel. Twenty-four survivors are receiving treatment in hospital.
    The psychologist, Michael Callen said that he is working with a team of Belgians and Swiss at a Sion hospital where the injured children are being treated.
    They are being counseled by psychologists in crisis groups.
    "They'll survive, they have of course difficulty to place this all. We are talking to them, they are talking to each other and they are talking with their children. So it's like a big family who are supported with a very good help here of the people, the professionals of the hospital and also our Belgian team," Callen said.
    Twenty-one of the dead were Belgian nationals and seven were Dutch, according to Swiss officials. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said three Dutch children in the bus were injured. Most children aboard were aged about 12.
    Callen said that the children are carefully being prepared to face the the truth about Tuesday's tragic events.
    "When the children ask us what has happened and how, we have to tell them very gently the truth. That's the opinion the psychologists give, that we can't hide it. The children know naturally or at least they realise more and more what's happened," Callen said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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