The celebration of Spain’s World Cup victory ended in tragedy in Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca), where a 13-year-old boy died, and three other people were seriously injured when a fountain collapsed after supporters climbed onto it.
After the final whistle and Spain’s victory over Argentina, sealed with a goal from Ferran Torres, hundreds of thousands of fans took to the streets to celebrate the title. In Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the main gathering points was the Árbol Gordo fountain.
At the height of the celebrations, the upper part of the fountain gave way and fell onto several people on the structure. Among them was the 13-year-old, who was treated at the health centre in Ciudad Rodrigo, where he later died.
Castilla y León’s 112 Emergency Centre received the first alert at 00:33, when several calls reported the collapse of the fountain. It then mobilised the Ciudad Rodrigo local police, the Salamanca Civil Guard, the provincial fire brigade and the Sacyl emergency medical services, which deployed several units to the scene.
According to the first reports, in addition to the deceased, at least two other people were injured, one of them with a broken leg. The area where the collapse occurred has been cordoned off and remains under guard while the circumstances of the accident are investigated. The Psychological Intervention in Disasters and Emergencies Group has also been activated to provide support to the family of the deceased minor.