Consternation in Tarragona for the death of the three children drowned on Arrabassada beach
President Salvador Illa and Mayor Rubén Viñuales accompany the victims' families in a moving minute of silence
BarcelonaA shocked Tarragona remembered this Sunday the three 12 and 13-year-old children who drowned in an accident at Arrabassada beach. The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the municipal corporation led by the mayor, Rubén Viñuales, headed the institutional representation in an emotional minute of silence in which the victims' parents and siblings received the warmth and support of the citizens. The event, held in Plaça de la Font, in front of the City Hall, ended with applause, amidst tears and embraces from those present.
Hours before the tribute, the death of the third child involved in the accident was confirmed. The 13-year-old was taken to Joan XXIII Hospital after being rescued from the water and stabilized thanks to cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers. Another child died at the same center on Saturday in the same circumstances, while on Friday itself, the death of another 12-year-old minor was certified, who could no longer be resuscitated once the emergency teams managed to pull him out of the water.
The three victims were part of a group of six pre-teens who were on a rocky area known as Cova del Gos on Friday afternoon, when sea currents dragged them out to sea. Three of the boys were able to get out of the water and alert the lifeguards, but the other three are the ones who died this weekend.
Three days of mourning
"These are moments of great pain and consternation. This tragic event has cut short the lives of these young people, their families and friends. From the City Council we want to accompany them and send them all our support. There are no words in the face of such an event," states Viñuales. Before the minute of silence, President Illa and the mayor had a meeting with the children's families and, in public, stood by their side, offering them tokens of support.
Among those attending the minute of silence were other children, schoolmates and members of CD La Floresta from the city where the boy who died on Friday, Maikel, 12 years old, who was the captain of his team, used to play.
The City Council has decreed three days of mourning in Tarragona. During this period, the city has suspended all institutional activity and keeps the official flags at half-mast as a sign of respect for the victims.