This did not have to happen!
The night of June 23rd , and on into the morning of June 24th is considered the festival of San Juan, the shortest night of the Summer. Custom demands that all roads lead to the beach from early evening until daybreak. Fires are lit in dugout sand pits, dinner is consumed with lots of alcohol, and a curious ritual is engaged in by jumping over the fires barefoot. At midnight, for good luck everyone goes into the water up the their knees to jump over the first seven waves.
In a word, it’s a time of enjoyment, bonhomie, and goodwill, and generally is marked by an absence of anyone getting hurt. Notwithstanding the fact that part of the leftovers are hot coals smouldering in the sand waiting for bare feet, the clean up is very efficient, so not even that is supposed to end in any kind of medical emergency.
This year was different. A massive tragedy took place, and it was not even supposed to have been possible. A large group of celebrants took the local train to a station alongside the beach in Castellon, got off the train and then did something that common sense says never to do. They needed to cross over to the other side of the tracks, and so they went in front of the train and started to make the crossing.
Someone must have led the way, probably stating out loud with great bravado “come on, we can go this way.” However, given the danger, there is an underground pass built for pedestrian crossing. It means that a person has to go down the steps, and then up again. What a lot of bother for the partygoers. Better to just cross over the tracks even though to step out in front of the stopped train meant doing so blindly.
I imagine that as a large group they felt the power of their numbers to keep the train at a standstill, but they didn’t reckon on the fast through train that they didn’t even see coming. It mowed down everyone in its path, instantly killing 12 people and injuring another 15. The pain and suffering being endured by the families left behind is quite enough without being added to by criticism of the actions of the deceased and injured. It is plain for all to see how this disaster could, and should have been avoided.
What’s done is done, and the only thing of any positive aspect now is to learn the lesson that has so painfully been laid out before us. The taking of reckless risks is always something to be avoided, and all too frequently ends in tears.
For this reason we should always hold the night of San Juan as a reminder to be careful and vigilant in our daily lives. At least that would give some meaning to an event that otherwise would be a complete and utter folly.
Needless to say, the person whose idea it was to cross the tracks most probably survived to look back on the result of his recklessness. I wonder how he is feeling today.
Copyright © 2010 Eugene Carmichael
The night of June 23rd , and on into the morning of June 24th is considered the festival of San Juan, the shortest night of the Summer. Custom demands that all roads lead to the beach from early evening until daybreak. Fires are lit in dugout sand pits, dinner is consumed with lots of alcohol, and a curious ritual is engaged in by jumping over the fires barefoot. At midnight, for good luck everyone goes into the water up the their knees to jump over the first seven waves.
In a word, it’s a time of enjoyment, bonhomie, and goodwill, and generally is marked by an absence of anyone getting hurt. Notwithstanding the fact that part of the leftovers are hot coals smouldering in the sand waiting for bare feet, the clean up is very efficient, so not even that is supposed to end in any kind of medical emergency.
This year was different. A massive tragedy took place, and it was not even supposed to have been possible. A large group of celebrants took the local train to a station alongside the beach in Castellon, got off the train and then did something that common sense says never to do. They needed to cross over to the other side of the tracks, and so they went in front of the train and started to make the crossing.
Someone must have led the way, probably stating out loud with great bravado “come on, we can go this way.” However, given the danger, there is an underground pass built for pedestrian crossing. It means that a person has to go down the steps, and then up again. What a lot of bother for the partygoers. Better to just cross over the tracks even though to step out in front of the stopped train meant doing so blindly.
I imagine that as a large group they felt the power of their numbers to keep the train at a standstill, but they didn’t reckon on the fast through train that they didn’t even see coming. It mowed down everyone in its path, instantly killing 12 people and injuring another 15. The pain and suffering being endured by the families left behind is quite enough without being added to by criticism of the actions of the deceased and injured. It is plain for all to see how this disaster could, and should have been avoided.
What’s done is done, and the only thing of any positive aspect now is to learn the lesson that has so painfully been laid out before us. The taking of reckless risks is always something to be avoided, and all too frequently ends in tears.
For this reason we should always hold the night of San Juan as a reminder to be careful and vigilant in our daily lives. At least that would give some meaning to an event that otherwise would be a complete and utter folly.
Needless to say, the person whose idea it was to cross the tracks most probably survived to look back on the result of his recklessness. I wonder how he is feeling today.
Copyright © 2010 Eugene Carmichael
