Mother's horror as her five-month-old baby dies after she left him on conveyor belt at Spanish airport and he got trapped in the mechanism
- Mother 'placed baby on special baggage belt which was then turned on'
- Carousel began moving and baby was taken to bag portal
- Infant became trapped in rollers and died at scene of tragic accident
- Five-month-old baby confirmed as American citizen
- Grieving parents questioned by police over tragedy
By SAM GREENHILL, ANNA EDWARDS and HANNAH ROBERTS PUBLISHED: 13:07 GMT, 19 September 2013 | UPDATED: 08:57 GMT, 20 September 2013
A baby was killed on an airport baggage carousel in Spain after his family arrived from Gatwick on holiday. His mother had momentarily placed the five-month-old boy down on the conveyer belt, which was not running at the time.But when she turned away to reach something, it suddenly started.
A five-month-old baby has died after an horrific accident on a baggage collection belt at Alicante-Elche Airport (pictured)
The baby boy was placed on the conveyer belt at Alicante airport (pictured) when it was activated and he was killed
Alicante Airport management company Aena said the baby was on the belt that delivers outsize luggage when the accident happened
The little boy was carried around to the portal where bags emerge, and became entangled in the mechanism.He was declared dead at the scene, in the baggage hall of Alicante- Elche airport.
The unnamed family, which included an older child, had flown from London with easyJet.The woman’s husband, who had travelled separately, was waiting to greet his family in the arrivals hall to start their holiday on the Costa Blanca. After disembarking from the plane shortly before midnight on Wednesday, the mother and her two children entered the terminal and arrived at the baggage reclaim area.Police sources said that the boy’s mother placed him on a special baggage belt reserved for the collection of larger suitcases, pushchairs and musical instruments.
Paramedics rushed to save the child's life at the airport but he was declared dead at the scene
However, it was then switched on – apparently automatically triggered by the weight of the boy and the baby carrier he was strapped into.One airport security worker said: ‘The mother apparently put him down on the conveyor belt when she went to reach for something, but then it started up.’Witnesses said the whole episode unfolded in seconds, leaving no chance for the mother to react in time.Paramedics rushed to the baby’s aid, but his injuries were so severe they were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead by the airport’s on-call doctor.There were reports that the family had to wait until a judge arrived before the baby could be moved, in accordance with Spanish law.Spanish police said the parents of the baby have been questioned.
The Guardia Civil were the first to respond to the accident at the airport but he was declared dead at the scene
One airport worker said the baby boy was crushed by the conveyer belt after it was activated
Police sources said the boy's American mother had flown into Alicante-Elche Airport from Gatwick with the little boy and his older brother
A spokesman for Guardia Civil in Alicante said: 'I can confirm the death of a five month old baby at the airport. We are investigating the causes. 'As part of the investigation the mother and father have been questioned.' The family were said to be travelling to the nearby resort town of Denia. Civil Guard and National Police spokesmen confirmed that the mother is American and the father is Canadian,CNN reported.
It was reported last night that the family had flown via London for their holiday. Officials could not confirm the exact circumstances of the death.Sources at the airport, formerly called El Altet, would only say that the baby ‘suffered an accident on the belt’. Emergency services said they were asked to provide counselling for the mother and father.
The family had just arrived for a holiday in the Spanish resort when the tragedy happened
The couple and their other child are staying at the hotel where they were due to be holidaying as they deal with the aftermath of the tragedy. The Guardia Civil said it was investigating what happened, but said it was currently being considered as an accident. A spokesman said: ‘We are still in the early stages of the investigation and looking at CCTV footage, but it seems that it was an accident. ‘The mother left the baby on the conveyor belt, which can be activated by detecting weight or by an airport employee. ‘It seems that the baby carrier’s weight activated the belt and the child was trapped in the rollers in the drop zone.’ A US Embassy in Madrid spokesman said: 'The U.S. Embassy in Madrid is aware of the tragic death of an U.S. citizen child in Alicante and is providing appropriate consular assistance.
'Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.'
The Canadian Embassy in Madrid would not comment. Alicante airport is the sixth busiest in Spain based on passenger numbers. It is the main airport for the province, which is a popular summer holiday destination for thousands of Britons, many of whom own homes in the region. The weather there is still sunny and warm, with temperatures nearing 30C (86F) this week, making it an attractive destination as a cold spell grips northern Europe. Last month, a two-year-old girl on holiday there fell into a swimming pool and drowned as her mother slept in a hammock nearby. Police said Isabella May Crump was staying at a relative’s villa on the coast with her parents, grandparents and four-year-old brother when the tragedy happened. Her mother, Deborah Ridgway, 26, woke up to see her daughter’s body floating in the water.
A baby was killed on an airport baggage carousel in Spain after his family arrived from Gatwick on holiday. His mother had momentarily placed the five-month-old boy down on the conveyer belt, which was not running at the time.But when she turned away to reach something, it suddenly started.
A five-month-old baby has died after an horrific accident on a baggage collection belt at Alicante-Elche Airport (pictured)
The baby boy was placed on the conveyer belt at Alicante airport (pictured) when it was activated and he was killed
Alicante Airport management company Aena said the baby was on the belt that delivers outsize luggage when the accident happened
The little boy was carried around to the portal where bags emerge, and became entangled in the mechanism.He was declared dead at the scene, in the baggage hall of Alicante- Elche airport.
The unnamed family, which included an older child, had flown from London with easyJet.The woman’s husband, who had travelled separately, was waiting to greet his family in the arrivals hall to start their holiday on the Costa Blanca. After disembarking from the plane shortly before midnight on Wednesday, the mother and her two children entered the terminal and arrived at the baggage reclaim area.Police sources said that the boy’s mother placed him on a special baggage belt reserved for the collection of larger suitcases, pushchairs and musical instruments.
Paramedics rushed to save the child's life at the airport but he was declared dead at the scene
However, it was then switched on – apparently automatically triggered by the weight of the boy and the baby carrier he was strapped into.One airport security worker said: ‘The mother apparently put him down on the conveyor belt when she went to reach for something, but then it started up.’Witnesses said the whole episode unfolded in seconds, leaving no chance for the mother to react in time.Paramedics rushed to the baby’s aid, but his injuries were so severe they were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead by the airport’s on-call doctor.There were reports that the family had to wait until a judge arrived before the baby could be moved, in accordance with Spanish law.Spanish police said the parents of the baby have been questioned.
The Guardia Civil were the first to respond to the accident at the airport but he was declared dead at the scene
One airport worker said the baby boy was crushed by the conveyer belt after it was activated
Police sources said the boy's American mother had flown into Alicante-Elche Airport from Gatwick with the little boy and his older brother
A spokesman for Guardia Civil in Alicante said: 'I can confirm the death of a five month old baby at the airport. We are investigating the causes. 'As part of the investigation the mother and father have been questioned.' The family were said to be travelling to the nearby resort town of Denia. Civil Guard and National Police spokesmen confirmed that the mother is American and the father is Canadian,CNN reported.
It was reported last night that the family had flown via London for their holiday. Officials could not confirm the exact circumstances of the death.Sources at the airport, formerly called El Altet, would only say that the baby ‘suffered an accident on the belt’. Emergency services said they were asked to provide counselling for the mother and father.
The family had just arrived for a holiday in the Spanish resort when the tragedy happened
The couple and their other child are staying at the hotel where they were due to be holidaying as they deal with the aftermath of the tragedy. The Guardia Civil said it was investigating what happened, but said it was currently being considered as an accident. A spokesman said: ‘We are still in the early stages of the investigation and looking at CCTV footage, but it seems that it was an accident. ‘The mother left the baby on the conveyor belt, which can be activated by detecting weight or by an airport employee. ‘It seems that the baby carrier’s weight activated the belt and the child was trapped in the rollers in the drop zone.’ A US Embassy in Madrid spokesman said: 'The U.S. Embassy in Madrid is aware of the tragic death of an U.S. citizen child in Alicante and is providing appropriate consular assistance.
'Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.'
The Canadian Embassy in Madrid would not comment. Alicante airport is the sixth busiest in Spain based on passenger numbers. It is the main airport for the province, which is a popular summer holiday destination for thousands of Britons, many of whom own homes in the region. The weather there is still sunny and warm, with temperatures nearing 30C (86F) this week, making it an attractive destination as a cold spell grips northern Europe. Last month, a two-year-old girl on holiday there fell into a swimming pool and drowned as her mother slept in a hammock nearby. Police said Isabella May Crump was staying at a relative’s villa on the coast with her parents, grandparents and four-year-old brother when the tragedy happened. Her mother, Deborah Ridgway, 26, woke up to see her daughter’s body floating in the water.
