Claire Wilson
A five-month-old baby died on Wednesday night after a horrific accident on a baggage collection conveyor belt at a Spanish airport.
The boy’s family had just touched down at the Alicante-Elche Airport for their holidays in nearby Denia on Spain’s Costa Blanca when tragedy struck.
After disembarking the plane – from London Gatwick – shortly before midnight, they entered the terminal and arrived at the baggage collection area.
Exact details of what happened next have not yet been revealed.
But sources at the airport, which used to be called El Altet, say that the baby “suffered an accident on the belt.”
Paramedics rushed to save the child’s life, but it was too late.
Some reports suggest that the family was British, others that they were American and touring Europe.
It is believed the accident happened on the special baggage belt area – which is reserved for the collection of larger suitcases, pushchairs and musical instruments.
His parents, who are also believed to have another older child, are currently staying at the hotel where they were due to be holidaying.
Red Cross volunteers are on hand for “psychological” help.
A Guardia Civil spokesman said it was investigating the incident, but said it was currently being put down as “an accident.”
Read this story in the Guardian – the mother was American and arrived from the UK with the baby and another child. The father who was Canadian was waiting to meet them.
It beggars belief that anyone would be stupid enough to put a baby carrier onto a conveyor belt, even if it was’nt moving at the time. This conveyor belt was for extra large baggage and moves when weight is detected.
For the mother to say that she only bent down to retrieve something on the ground does’nt ring true – these conveyor belts don’t move fast – to not resond immediately when she must undoubtedly have heard/seen the belt moving is beyond belief. Was no other passenger around to see what was happening, whatever the 4 month old baby is dead, a tragedy that the mother will have to live with forever.
The Mail is now running a longer article with both the original story saying the weight of the child carrier started the belt moving, AND the second story about the woman herself climbing onto the belt and the losing her balance. Two incompatible stories at the same time. Always be suspicious if you get two or more versions.
So, Stuart, you cleared the poor parents of being British and then you call them stupid. You are a real class act. If they were Canadian and American, that means they took an overnight minimum 8-hour flight to London before connecting to Alicante. A long trip that would make anyone groggy. Not making excuses, but I find it hard to criticize parents that will be grief stricken for the rest of their life.
Learn the facts before spouting off.
I entirely agree with St Luke, following this tragedy it is time to offer sympathy, not cast blame, my heart goes out to this poor family. However I would add that only a couple of weeks ago at Malaga airport I told a toddler who seemed unsupervised and who was jumping on and off the conveyor as we waited for it to start. Mother appeared and said ” Oh come on you mustn’t play, some people don’t like kids having fun’ Seconds later the belt started moving. I was flabbergasted!