Podcast Summary: "Gonzalo, el vendedor de cupones que rescató a los primeros heridos del tren en Adamuz con su quad: 'Saqué a unas 15 personas'"

Podcast: Más de uno
Host: Carlos Alsina (Onda Cero)
Guest: Gonzalo Sánchez, vecino de Adamuz
Date: January 19, 2026

1. Overview

This episode centers on the remarkable role played by Gonzalo Sánchez, a local lottery coupon seller from Adamuz, in the immediate aftermath of the Adamuz train derailment. Host Carlos Alsina highlights the courage and solidarity shown by Gonzalo and his fellow locals, who arrived first at the accident site to assist the wounded, before emergency services could reach the area. The episode provides an intense, firsthand account of the rescue, the emotional toll, and the challenges of reaching and helping the victims.

2. Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Immediate Response to the Train Accident

• Gonzalo’s Initial Reaction: Gonzalo describes hearing the sirens, grabbing his flashlight (which he later lost), and rushing to the accident scene (01:11).
• First Actions at the Scene: Upon arrival, he found chaos: "Lo primero que me encuentro es un chaval con los descalzos, solo con sangre en los pies. Lo cojo, digo venga que nos vamos." (01:43)

Use of His Quad for Rescue

• Critical Role of the Quad: Gonzalo’s quad allowed him to access parts of the crash area that ambulances and other vehicles could not reach. He coordinated with the Guardia Civil to shuttle people, supplies, and rescue workers (03:03–03:29).
  • Quote: “El acceso allí es muy malo, muy malo. Y pensé en ese momento, digo, pues mi quád entra aquí. Pues así fue.” (03:03)

Emotional and Physical Toll

• Intensity of the Experience: Gonzalo admits to feeling fatigued, nervous, and shaken. He says it’s impossible to imagine such a situation without experiencing it (00:48, 02:57).
• Memorable and Traumatic Images: He recalls breaking through fences, entering the first railcar, and confronting scenes few are prepared for: “Son imágenes que no se van a borrar tan fácilmente en la vida.” (04:02)
  • Quote: “Durísimo, durísimo. Yo creo que no estamos preparados para eso.” (04:22)

Community Solidarity

• Collective Effort: The entire local community, including people from neighboring towns, joined in the rescue. Gonzalo highlights the impressive humanitarian response by civilians and emergency services alike (05:23).
  • Quote: “Aquí ha volcado todo el pueblo... la labor humanitaria que se despliega aquí ha sido enorme.” (05:23)

The Moral Weight of Choices

• Selecting Who to Help: Gonzalo describes the painful reality of having to prioritize whom to rescue: “Los cadáveres los ve y este puerto ya no puedo hacer nada, vamos al siguiente.” (06:21)
• Overwhelming Sights and Smells: He recounts the “dantesco” scene: twisted machinery, blood, darkness, and a pervasive bad smell—elements that add to the trauma (06:46–07:09).

Recognition and Humility

• Job and Daily Life: Gonzalo reaffirms his identity—as the local ONCE lottery coupon seller—and humbly notes he will try to move forward, suggesting a desire for anonymity amidst newfound attention (07:27–07:47).

3. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Incomprehensibility of Trauma:
  “Fatigado, cansado, nervioso, tembloroso. No le puedo decir que se imagine nada porque es imposible de imaginar.”
  — Gonzalo Sánchez (00:48)

• On Immediate Shock and Drive to Act:
  “En ese momento no piensas ni una cosa ni otra, simplemente va a ayudar todo el que pueda y ya está.”
  — Gonzalo Sánchez (01:58)

• On Moral Dilemmas at the Scene:
  “Los cadáveres los ve y este puerto ya no puedo hacer nada, vamos al siguiente.”
  — Gonzalo Sánchez (06:21)

• On the Community’s Solidarity:
  “Aquí ha volcado todo el pueblo, Villafranca, Montoro, Villanueva de Córdoba… la labor humanitaria ha sido enorme.”
  — Gonzalo Sánchez (05:23)

4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:30–01:11]: Introduction and emotional state of Gonzalo
• [01:11–02:51]: First arrival at the scene, initial rescues, use of quad, and coordination with Guardia Civil
• [03:03–03:29]: The quad’s importance for accessing crash site
• [04:01–04:33]: Breaking the perimeter and entering the first railcar
• [05:19–05:55]: Emotional impact, role of the community, and humanitarian effort
• [06:21–06:27]: Difficult moral choices in prioritizing help
• [06:46–07:09]: Description of the scene and “dantesco” conditions
• [07:27–07:47]: Recognition of his role as the local lottery vendor and efforts to move on

5. Conclusion: Lasting Impact and Reflection

Carlos Alsina closes the episode reflecting on the deep emotional toll on those who responded, like Gonzalo. In the moment, practical action prevails over emotion, but the psychological weight surfaces later. Gonzalo’s humility, directness, and the community’s solidarity shine as a profound testament to the human instinct to help in times of disaster.