Second victim of Colombia air crash dies: 11-yr-old girl

BOGOTA, Sept 1, 2010 (AFP) - An 11-year-old girl injured in an August 16 plane crash in Colombia's San Andres island died Wednesday, making her only the second person to die in the crash that left 129 survivors.

"Unfortunately, Maria Camila died at at 5:30 pm (2230 GMT). Her vital signs had deteriorated" badly, said Carlos Hernandez, chief surgeon at Bogota's Simon Bolivar Hospital, where she was being treated.

He said the girl's brain swelling was so serious and her tension so great "she was unable to recover."

Camila was the second person to have died from the crash of Colombiana Aires' Boeing 737 as it approached the runway at San Andres during a storm. The plane broke in three pieces with all 131 passengers and crew scrambling to safety.

The only other fatality from the crash was that of a 73-year-old woman who died of a heart attack after being evacuated.

Apart from Camila, another passenger was also seriously injured in the crash.


by Stephen Collinson
(c) 2010 AFP