Actor Survives Madrid Train Crash by Breaking Window

Manuel Bandera, an actor known for his work on the Spanish series Acacias 38, survived a major train accident in Toledo province on Wednesday morning. The collision between an AVE high-speed train and an Iryo service killed at least 68 people. Bandera told the radio program Más de uno that he was seated in the final car of the AVE when the crash occurred.

The actor boarded the train at Madrid Atocha station with the goal of reaching Sevilla to record an episode of the show La gran audición. He described a stop near Madrid that lasted between five and 10 minutes. The driver told passengers that the delay was due to traffic on the tracks and that they would resume moving shortly.

Bandera said the train restarted its movement. Within 10 minutes, the impact happened. He believes the AVE was given the signal to proceed while the Iryo train was still stopped on the track. The force of the collision caused severe damage, but passengers in his car sustained only minor injuries.

The actor recounted the immediate aftermath to Canal Sur. He said he saw the wreckage and described the scene as a horror. He added that he was praying his car would not overturn. He credited his survival to the position of his seat.

"I have had the immense luck that [my car] was at the end this time," Bandera said. He explained that he and other passengers checked on one another before breaking a window to exit the damaged vehicle.

Bandera described his physical condition as stable, noting a small bruise on his ribs. He told journalist Toñi Moreno that he felt as if he had been reborn. He remained at the accident site on Wednesday, waiting in a line for transport to a nearby town where he hoped to arrange a ride back to Madrid.

The incident occurred on October 28. Bandera is one of the confirmed survivors from the AVE train. The local authorities are coordinating the evacuation of remaining passengers from the crash site.