SPANISH STUDENT EXTREMELY UNLUCKY TO BE STRUCK BY DEBRIS
Spanish student extremely unlucky to be struck by sliver of debris
By JOHN McCUSKER
A YOUNG Spanish boy died after being struck by a piece of shrapnel which would have caused only minor injuries had it hit any other part of his body, the inquest heard.
Exchange student, Fernando Blasco Baselga (12) died alongside his teacher 23-year-old Rocio Abad Ramos, after both had been caught in the explosion during a day-trip from their base in Buncrana.
The pair had been part of a 33-strong Spanish group taking part in a language course and had been staying with host families in the Donegal resort. They had arrived in Ireland two weeks prior to the tragedy.
Leaving Buncrana at 10am on the morning of 15th August 1998, the group first visited the Ulster American Folk Park before travelling on into Omagh. Both had been standing at the junction of Market Street and Drumragh Avenue when the bomb exploded. Three young Buncrana schoolchildren also died in the atrocity.
Youth leader, Paula Mahon from Buncrana gave evidence of identifying the bodies of both victims whom she had known for many years.
In statements, Ms Mahon described how she had been shown the bodies at 9am on the morning after the attack. She said she had known Ms Abad Ramos for 10 years and Fernando 'all his life', as he was a family friend.
Outlining the injuries sustained by Fernando, pathologist, Dr Derek Carson said the schoolboy was virtually unmarked apart from a small wound to the left side of his neck. He believed the student had not been near the seat of the explosion but had been struck by a piece of flying debris which had severed his spinal cord. This would have led to 'instantaneous death,' he said.
"He was unlucky to be struck by one piece of debris. The tragedy is that if the same metal object had struck the arm or leg, the injury would have been survivable," he added.
Fernando was later identified on the Sunday evening by his mother, Lucrecia Baselga Ridruejo. Police were helped in this matter by the assistance of an interpreter, the court heard.
The inquest also heard how Ms Abad Ramos most probably died immediately in the blast after suffering a broken neck when flung down face forward by the force the blast.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Carson said there were other injuries to the lungs and spleen, but these would have been survivable. He believed she had been close to the car at the time of the explosion
In a statement read to the court, Ms Abad Ramos's father, Jose confirmed how he had identified his daughter body at Lisanelly Camp at 5.20pm on the Sunday evening. She had lived at the family home in Madrid all her life.
Solicitor Patrick Laverty said both families wished to pass on their thanks to those who helped out following the tragedy. The Donegal host families, who had looked after the two victims, had been travelling to the inquest, he said.
"They wanted to be here for these traumatic moments the lives and deaths these two people," he added
Passing on condolences of all who had dealt with the aftermath of the explosion, Mr Leckey said: "We are all conscious that for the families of Rocio and Fernando, they died very traumatically a long way from home which can only add to the distress which am sure they are undergoing."
By JOHN McCUSKER
A YOUNG Spanish boy died after being struck by a piece of shrapnel which would have caused only minor injuries had it hit any other part of his body, the inquest heard.
Exchange student, Fernando Blasco Baselga (12) died alongside his teacher 23-year-old Rocio Abad Ramos, after both had been caught in the explosion during a day-trip from their base in Buncrana.
The pair had been part of a 33-strong Spanish group taking part in a language course and had been staying with host families in the Donegal resort. They had arrived in Ireland two weeks prior to the tragedy.
Leaving Buncrana at 10am on the morning of 15th August 1998, the group first visited the Ulster American Folk Park before travelling on into Omagh. Both had been standing at the junction of Market Street and Drumragh Avenue when the bomb exploded. Three young Buncrana schoolchildren also died in the atrocity.
Youth leader, Paula Mahon from Buncrana gave evidence of identifying the bodies of both victims whom she had known for many years.
In statements, Ms Mahon described how she had been shown the bodies at 9am on the morning after the attack. She said she had known Ms Abad Ramos for 10 years and Fernando 'all his life', as he was a family friend.
Outlining the injuries sustained by Fernando, pathologist, Dr Derek Carson said the schoolboy was virtually unmarked apart from a small wound to the left side of his neck. He believed the student had not been near the seat of the explosion but had been struck by a piece of flying debris which had severed his spinal cord. This would have led to 'instantaneous death,' he said.
"He was unlucky to be struck by one piece of debris. The tragedy is that if the same metal object had struck the arm or leg, the injury would have been survivable," he added.
Fernando was later identified on the Sunday evening by his mother, Lucrecia Baselga Ridruejo. Police were helped in this matter by the assistance of an interpreter, the court heard.
The inquest also heard how Ms Abad Ramos most probably died immediately in the blast after suffering a broken neck when flung down face forward by the force the blast.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Carson said there were other injuries to the lungs and spleen, but these would have been survivable. He believed she had been close to the car at the time of the explosion
In a statement read to the court, Ms Abad Ramos's father, Jose confirmed how he had identified his daughter body at Lisanelly Camp at 5.20pm on the Sunday evening. She had lived at the family home in Madrid all her life.
Solicitor Patrick Laverty said both families wished to pass on their thanks to those who helped out following the tragedy. The Donegal host families, who had looked after the two victims, had been travelling to the inquest, he said.
"They wanted to be here for these traumatic moments the lives and deaths these two people," he added
Passing on condolences of all who had dealt with the aftermath of the explosion, Mr Leckey said: "We are all conscious that for the families of Rocio and Fernando, they died very traumatically a long way from home which can only add to the distress which am sure they are undergoing."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1467
Published Date: 21-Sep-00
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