The joy of Spain's World Cup victory turned to horror in the early hours of Monday when a 13-year-old boy died after a fountain collapsed in the northwestern city of Salamanca.
Thousands of fans had poured onto the streets after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time in New York, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute. But at the Arbol Gordo fountain in Ciudad Rodrigo, celebration turned to catastrophe as the upper part of the structure fell onto revellers.
“A 13-year-old boy died in Spain after a fountain collapsed during World Cup victory celebrations, marring Spain's win over Argentina.”
Two other young people were injured, one of them taken to hospital with a possible broken leg, according to the BBC. The Ciudad Rodrigo local police, Civil Guard, fire brigade and emergency medical services responded to the alert shortly after midnight.
The boy received treatment at Ciudad Rodrigo's health centre before dying. Mayor Marcos Iglesias Carisaid said: "I couldn't be more dismayed by this tragic news. I join in the grief of the entire family and friends over this loss. What was a day of celebration has turned into a tragedy for all of us."
The city council announced three days of mourning, with flags to fly at half-mast from July 20 to July 22. Local team Ciudad Rodrigo CF said: "The entire town and the club are dismayed by the news we have received on a very tough and very dark day in our history."
The match itself had provided a story of sporting transition. Spain’s 19-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who had earlier gone viral for a photo of him as a baby being bathed by a 20-year-old Lionel Messi, embraced the tearful Argentina captain after the final whistle. Messi, at 39 and playing what may be his last World Cup, was overcome with emotion as Yamal offered consolation.
Yamal, who also won the European Championship two years ago, became the youngest player – at 19 years and six days – to win both titles. He has never lost in 28 competitive matches for Spain and started 13 major tournament games, winning them all.
But as the nation celebrated its second World Cup triumph, the tragedy in Salamanca cast a shadow over the victory.