An influencer couple who plummeted to the ground in an ultralight aircraft crash have been trying to rebuild their lives after they were left with devastating injuries.
Spanish entrepreneur Xavi Caballol, 49, and his partner, Alba Serch, were involved in a horrific crash at Viladamat aerodrome in Girona on October 19 last year.
The shocking accident, which was caught on camera, happened after the engine on Xavi’s private ultralight aircraft stalled during a manoeuvre.
The couple then plunged from a height of 150 feet which saw injuries between them including a broken vertebrae and other broken bones — Xavi also fractured his skull, causing a loss of mobility in part of his face.
Now, Xavi and Alba are undergoing a gruelling path back to rehabilitation.
The couple are in wheelchairs but are learning to walk again through a regime of physiotherapy.
Despite it being traumatic for the couple, Xavi said they have decided to publish the video in the hope it will prevent future accidents.
Alba was filming as the ultralight aircraft that Xavi Caballol was piloting plummeted to the ground on October 19
Xavi and his partner Alba are now both learning to walk again after experiencing devastating injuries from the crash
Alba Serch and Spanish entrepreneur Xavi Caballol pictured in happier times before the crash
‘The video of the accident that has changed our lives. We have decided to share this video, despite it being traumatic for us,’ Xavi said.
‘They tell us that ultralight aviation is very safe and from experience I categorically affirm that it is not.
‘It is a beautiful world that I would reserve for commercial and private pilots with many hours of flight and experience.
‘In my case, I had practiced this type of manoeuvre hundreds of times and it never happened to me to stall in such a violent way and fall like a stone.
‘I don’t know if it was due to a downdraft, a thermal, a sudden change in wind since we had very laminar (smooth) wind… I don’t know.
Spanish entrepreneur Xavi Caballol, 49, (pictured) and his partner, Alba Serch, were involved in a horrific crash at Viladamat aerodrome in Girona on October 19 last year
‘They tell us that ultralight aviation is very safe and from experience I categorically affirm that it is not’ Xavi said – pictured is Xavi in the aircraft
Xavi Caballol has shared pictures of his and partner Alba Serch’s recovery from their injuries from the crash – he was left with a fractured skull and loss of mobility on one side of his face
‘What I do know is that I will never fly again, even though I have my pilot’s license.
‘This video also serves to silence the mouths that have no idea about aviation and write invented atrocities about the accident.
‘God protect you as he protected us.’
The businessman from Andorra used to be known as Ferrariman on social media, and the couple would show off their luxury lifestyle of fast cars and glamourous destinations.
However, the accident has changed their outlook on life.
Xavi added: ‘We have always been very selfish and focused on ourselves, but this experience has made us empathise more with people, it has awakened in us the feeling of helping others.
‘We are forever grateful for this second chance.’
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
