A SPANISH man who saw a photograph of his mother on the BBC's Twitter site being helped by a young couple during the Barcelona attack put out an appeal to find her guardian angels.
David Sardá's mum was among the 'walking wounded' when a van ploughed into pedestrians on the Ramblas on Thursday afternoon, and a picture by APF photographer Pau Barrena showed her with her arm in a makeshift sling as a young man and woman supported her on either side.
Sardá wanted to find the 'heroes' who had looked after his mother, and managed to find them within less than three days.
He wrote a message on Facebook in his search for them: “The injured person on the photo is my mother. She was mown down yesterday by the crowds who were fleeing in a panic from the attack in Barcelona. I'm lost for words to thank the two people who are accompanying her in the picture – they picked her up off the ground and took her into a shop to protect her, saw to her injuries, and were looking after and consoling her all the time. Thanks to them, my mother is still alive. All the family want to find out the names of these heroes to thank them personally – thank you with all our hearts! If anyone knows who they are, please contact me.”
The picture had been posted on Instagram by Iván Casas who, along with Montse SG, were the heroes in question, along with the caption: “Today, seeing this photo, I'm thankful I was able to get out of there unharmed and, above all, I feel proud to have been able to help as much as I could.”
David reposted the picture after getting in touch with Iván and Montse to thank them.
“I'm editing this message to announce that, happily, I've been able to contact Iván Casas Serrano and Montse SG and been able to thank them directly for the help they gave my mother!
“I want to thank all those who have supported and encouraged me with their comments, with all my heart. I'm overwhelmed and feel very emotional about the multitude of shows of affection I've received. To all those who have commented and shared, a thousand thanks!
“I'd also like to thank Tony Ojeda and May Herreros Pardo of [Hospital] Clínic for their swift attention; the taxi driver who took my mum to hospital without charging her; my great friend José Irún for spreading the message across social media; and his friend Ana Comitre for all her help and support. Thank you!”
Taxi and Cabify drivers, on the night, gave transport to everyone for free in central Barcelona to ensure they were safe and get them to hospital where needed, whilst Airbnb owners offered rooms without charge to anyone who needed them.
Within minutes of the health service putting out an appeal for blood, hundreds of members of the public were queuing up at all hospitals in Barcelona offering themselves as donors – in fact, within under half an hour, a second announcement went out to say blood stocks were now completely full with enough on hand to treat all the victims.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia travelled immediately to the city and paid a surprise visit to the injured in Barcelona's hospitals on Thursday night and Friday morning.
A MAN declared dead at his home in the province of Tarragona was on his way to the funeral parlour when he turned out to be alive, according to police sources.
A NEW child protection law named after a British musician living in Spain has been approved in Congress and is set to be signed off by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, June 8.
