Struggle for Justice by the Family Surviving the Glória Disaster: "No One Has Called for a Year"

A 20-second nightmare while descending Calçada da Glória on one of Lisbon's iconic yellow funiculars completely changed a family's life. The German Schmid family, who survived the catastrophic Glória funicular accident that killed 16 people last September with serious injuries, initiated legal proceedings against the Portuguese authorities almost a whole year after the accident.

Adrian Schmid and his wife Gülbahar talked for the first time about that holiday day they spent in Lisbon with their little son Lian and the chain of negligence that followed.

20 Second Nightmare and Obituary

In the city where they came to celebrate their wedding anniversary, when their children became restless, they took the wagon instead of walking up the steep hill. Everything happened in seconds; Not even a sound was heard, only the terror on the driver's face and the speeding wagon... The couple, who tried to protect 3-year-old Lian by shielding them with their bodies, were seriously injured when the wagon derailed and crashed into a building.

The moment of the accident, as well as what happened afterwards, were the scene of a great tragedy. While Gülbahar was lying on the ground with broken bones, Adrian was thought to be dead. In fact, the door of his family in Berlin was knocked at midnight and they were informed that their son had died. However, Gülbahar was sure that her husband was alive. The family reached Lisbon, searched hospital by hospital, and found Adrian in a coma, mistaken for the identity of another survivor (a deceased British tourist).

No Apology, No Explanation

Months of surgeries, returning to Germany with a private ambulance plane rented for 60 thousand euros, and endless traumas... What hurt the family the most was the attitude of the authorities in the intervening year. Neither the Lisbon Municipality, nor the public transport operator Carris, nor the insurance company made a single contact with the family, and not even an apology was offered.

The legal struggle initiated by the family is not focused on compensation; The main goal is for those responsible to be held accountable and for a similar negligence to never happen again.

The postponement of the actual technical report of the accident to March 2027 shows how slowly the process was taken. Gülbahar still walks with crutches, Adrian receives neurological treatment, and Lian, who turns 4 today, is trying to save everyone at home in the game she calls "Lisbon". Despite all this neglect, the family is not angry with the city; All they want is justice and to be able to personally hug and thank that police officer who held their son in his arms on the street that day.

Source: Natasha Donn / Expresso & Der Spiegel

Photo: EPA / Tiago Petinga