SPAIN: Relatives of French victim of Spanair crash disappointed by lack of support from their country

Record ID: 742225

  • Title: SPAIN: Relatives of French victim of Spanair crash disappointed by lack of support from their country
  • Date: 24th August 2008
  • Summary: PHOTOGRAPH OF PIERRICK CHARILLAS AND SON ETHAN
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA8POWL63DUHDC5S8CHM7PYIP5Q
  • Story Text: In addition to coming to term with the lost of their loved ones, relatives of the victims of Spanish air crash also have to organise the repatriation of the bodies and deal with administrative tasks.
    153 people were killed when the Spanair plane crashed on Wednesday (August 20).
    Most of the passengers were Spanish but Spain government had indicated there were 11 nationalities on board including people from Sweden, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Chile.
    Magalie Paton, a French citizen, lost her ex-husband Pierrick Charillas and their four year old son Ethan. Charillas was travelling with his new partner, Domenico Riso, an Italian pilot.
    Paton complained about the lack of support she is getting from the French government.

    "We, Pierrick and I, brought back some world medals, we fought, we fought for France and we were proud to do it and what is France doing today ? I mean, yes, the ambassador is on holidays, yes, sure. I wish him some good holidays, no worries, but it's kind of hard to take,'' Paton said.
    Paton said she and Charillas won France medals in judo.
    Paton came to Madrid with Patrick Charillas, Pierrick's father and the grandfather of Ethan. They say the French government and its representative in Spain, the ambassador, could have helped with organising the bodies' repatriation and the administrative side.
    ''If he was here, it wouldn't change that much but for all the administrative side Patrick was talking about, it's true it's tough because we have to ask all the questions, about the coffins, the repatriation, the cremation, all this. But it keeps us busy,'' Dolores said.
    Relatives have been facing the grim task to identify the body of their loved one, with many badly burnt in the crash.
    The bodies are being kept in a morgue in the cemetery of La Almudena (pronounce Almoodena), Madrid's largest cemetery.
    There, staff from emergency services like the SAMUR have been offering their services and support to the relatives.
    A psychologist from Madrid Emergency Rescue Service (SAMUR), Maria Dolores, said it is more difficult for the relatives to come to term with their loss if the bodies have not being identified.

    "The truth is we are facing an exceptional situation because some relatives want to see the bodies of their loved ones and that adds to their vulnerability, the stress, it adds to all their grief. That's why we have to give them the personal belongings and again that will be a critical situation because of all the pain they go through,'' Dolores said.
    Forensic teams have identified 50 bodies so far, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Friday (August 22) afternoon, and those are being returned to families for burials. The first burials took place on Friday. DNA tests are being conducted on 80 cadavers, El Pais said.
    An official investigation into the causes of the accident has been launched.
    Funerals of those victims already identified continued taking place on Saturday. Stewardess Raquel Perez was buried in Barcelona.
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