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Vol. 4 Issue 91 www.gibraltarolivepress.com February 27th - March 12th 2019
‘Rubber man’ bounces back
Plane terror
THIS is the dramatic moment a British Airways plane hit heavy turbulence while trying to land in Gibraltar. The clip, which went viral on social media, shows the plane tilting violently from side to side while attempting to land. One Gibraltar resident, said: “I was in that plane, it was very scary indeed.” Another witness of the plane, that was eventually forced to divert to Malaga, wrote: “It was awful! Never seen a plane rock from side to side as much! I’m still shaken by it!” British Airways confirmed the plane was diverted due to strong winds and that it landed safely in Malaga. Opinion Page 6
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto
“That first wave knocked me forward, cracking my rib and half-flooding my boat,” Baglietto, a former Gibraltar footballer, revealed. “The next wave threw it onto shallow rocks. It was very scary. If it had capsized I would not be here to tell the tale.” Speaking at his Glacis Estate home, he revealed: “I then waded across the rocks while being lashed by the waves until I got to dry land near the Europa Point cottages.” He continued: “I was soaked right through and in quite a lot of pain, also with a broken toe and plenty more
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THE Gibraltar government waded into a dramatic day in Parliament yesterday, insisting the cancelling of Article 50 and staying in the EU would be ‘the best possible outcome’. A spokesman made the comments, just hours after the UK’s Labour Party announced it would support a second referendum, while Theresa May confirmed MPs would get a vote on whether to delay Article 50 on March 13. Gibraltar said it would back a ‘remain’ outcome in any new referendum, despite the many concerns it had over EU institutions and countries. However, the Rock remains concerned over the delay of the so-called meaningful vote for MPs until March 12, just two weeks before the UK departure date.
80-year-old Hector Baglietto tells Olive Press how he survived dramatic Europa Point boat crash
again AN octogenarian fisherman whose boat was smashed on rocks during strong winds has told the Gibraltar Olive Press how remaining calm was key to staying alive. Pensioner Hector Baglietto, 80, was forced to swim to safety and clamber over jagged rocks when his sixmetre fibreglass ship, Tyjack, ran aground close to Europa Point (pictured left). The former fireman, who had been fishing when a three-metre wave slammed his vessel onto rocks, told the Gibraltar Olive Press: “I am lucky to be alive.” He added however he was ‘never afraid’ when he got into trouble during strong winds last Tuesday.
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Consequences
REPLICA: Of boat while (above) brave Hector
bruises.” Despite his injuries, he added that he was ‘very calm’ throughout the ordeal thanks to his decades of experience. The grandfather, who is one of 11 children, is known to his friends as the ‘rubber man’ as he always manages to get back up without serious injury. “It is a nickname that I have had for years, and it seems appropriate this time, that is for sure,” he joked. The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) responded to the distressed vessel off Europa Point at 9:00am on Thursday after Baglietto had set sail at 6:30am. Gibraltar Fire and Rescue
TM
Service treated the ‘shaken’ Gibraltarian, before he was transferred to St Bernard’s Hospital for medical attention. Hector explained how he had been brought up in a family of fishermen in Catalan Bay. The brave local, who retired from the Admiralty Fire Service at 50, admitted it would be the last time he went out sailing on his own. He said: “I was planning to stop in summer anyway so I think that is it for me. “I was sad to lose my boat I had named after my daughters Tyrene and Jaqueline, but as my nephew said, better my boat than me.”
TM
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If May’s deal is rejected, MPs will then vote on whether they want to leave the EU with or without a deal on March 13, before a vote is held on extending Article 50. “The Government is concerned about the consequences of an extension for obvious reasons,” the No6 statement added. Gibraltar will continue to brace itself for a no deal Brexit. “The position of the Government is that Gibraltar must continue to prepare for all eventualities as we leave the EU. The detailed planning for a no deal Brexit will continue.” Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: “The final potential outcomes of this process remain unclear. “We have therefore been working hard on all reasonably predictable outcomes to deliver the results we need certainty for all citizens and businesses alike. “We will continue to do so and to engage with the UK, the EU institutions and Member States, including Spain, to ensure all our citizens are equally and reciprocally protected in all eventualities.”