Heat wave in Spain – Madrid: Street sweeper collapses and dies

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A 60-year-old street sweeper collapsed at work last Friday from heat stroke and died moments later from a heart attack. The son of the deceased is now making serious accusations against the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida: “It is inhumane to work in long polyester clothing at 42 degrees without shade.”

Jose Antonio Gonzalez started his shift last Friday around 2pm. At that time it was already 39 degrees Celsius. During the next three hours of service, the mercury even climbed well above 40 degrees. The relentless heat and exertion hampered the 60-year-old. He couldn’t take it anymore and collapsed. According to a report in the daily newspaper “El Pais”, a local resident saw the street sweeper collapse. The man immediately picked up the phone and called 911.

But all help came too late. The unconscious person’s body temperature was 41 degrees when emergency services arrived. Moments later, Gonzalez died of a heart attack – he is one of more than a thousand dead in Spain and Portugal during the recent heat wave.

grief and anger among the bereaved
The grief was also accompanied by anger among his relatives – anger at the poor working conditions for the street sweepers in Madrid, where Gonzalez only ended up in the corona pandemic. The 60-year-old previously earned his living as a greengrocer. But to finally get a permanent job, the newcomer worked with particular diligence and conscientiousness, “El Pais” reports.

Gonzalez’s son Miguel Angel is now making serious charges against Mayor Martinez-Almeida. Even if he had made other requests to speak, they were well aware of the complaints. “Everyone must now take responsibility, the company and also the mayor,” demands the son, who told the Spanish newspaper how his father came home after a day of work in the heat. “He was completely destroyed.” One of the last Google searches on his computer was “heat stroke tips”.

Mayor denies allegations
Mayor Martinez-Almeida rejected the charges and defended the company responsible. Speaking to “El Diario”, the politician emphasized that the uniforms of the street sweepers were approved and “in principle complied with the regulations”. However, he promised to make improvements. According to the Aemet weather service, the heat wave that has gripped Spain since July 9 is expected to end on Tuesday.

Source: Krone

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