The Junta de Andalucía will cover the cost of the rescue attempt of the boy that perished down a bore hole in Totalán. The ill-fated, rescue operation last month, which lasted around a dozen days, cost 700,000 euros.

The Spokesman for the Junta, Elías Bendodo, explained that the Central Government in Madrid had responded to a request that it had no ‘competence’ in the affair and that the Junta would have to foot the bill.

He went on to say that the Junta was not going to kick up a fuss over this refusal from Madrid to help cover the expense of such a huge rescue operation and would carry the financial burden.

It is worth mentioning that many private companies freely gave their services in material, manpower and expertise without thought of recompense. Furthermore, the townsfolk of Totalán also pitched in providing free hot meals for rescue workers.

Editorial comment: If anybody did actually make money from this sad event, it was certainly the media entities that provided very questionable round-the-clock, news coverage and even webcam coverage of the rescue site as part of a veritable mediafest. Perhaps a donation from the not-mentioned-by-name TV channel and regional newspaper would not go amiss

(News: Andalucia)