Singer Reveals Powerful Familys Pain After Teens Death

Eurovision singer Barei has spoke about the “immense pain” felt by her powerful Spanish family following the tragic death of her 14-year-old niece Ana Reyzabal in a canoeing accident last week.

Barei, 38, who represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song ‘Say Yay!’, said the Reyzabal family, considered one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Spain, had lost so many members before their time that they “thought the quota had already been already covered”.

Barei, real name Barbara Reyzabal Gonzalez-Aller, daughter of Fortunato Reyzabal Larrouy and Teresa Gonzalez-Aller Monterde, said: “Death always hurts, but in those circumstances, and at those ages, the pain is immense.”

In the latest tragedy to hit the family, considered one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Spain, 14-year-old heiress Ana Reyzabal Rus was killed in a canoeing accident on 3rd July.

Credit: Newsflash
Screenshot of the message sent by Barei after the death of Ana

The young victim was taking part in a summer camp in the municipality of Comillas in the northern Spanish region of Cantabria when tragedy struck.

The teenager, who loved tennis, camping and rafting, was spending the first 15 days of July at Layos Camp with other youngsters.

According to the local newspaper El Mundo, 20 teenagers and four instructors went canoeing on the River Cares when Ana’s canoe overturned with another girl accompanying her.

The other girl managed to surface, but Ana did not appear above the water and an instructor had to stay in the area as the others went for help, as there was no phone coverage.

According to reports, the emergency services arrived on the scene around 50 minutes later and found the victim’s body trapped between some rocks in a hard-to-reach spot of the river.

Ana was the daughter of Eduardo Reyzabal Fernandez Villajurbin and the granddaughter of the late Eduardo Reyzabal Larrouy, the fourth of the seven children by patriarch Julian Reyzabal Delgado, and one of the heirs of the powerful family.

Julian Reyzabal Delgado launched the family’s real estate and cinema empire after leaving his modest life as a farmer.

Credit: Newsflash/@bareimusic
Barei, the singer

The patriarch died in 1978 having owned some of Madrid’s most emblematic buildings, such as the Picasso Tower, the iconic Palacio de la Prensa Cinema and the Windsor Tower, which was devastated in a huge fire in 2005.

Today, the family also owns over 30 cinemas, nightclubs and a cosmetics firm.

Julian, who came from a humble farming family in Burgos, arrived in Madrid full of dreams and quickly built a real estate and filmmaking empire, leaving his legacy to his seven children upon his death, five of whom have passed on as well.

His son Fortunato Reyzabal Larrouy, the father of Eurovision singer Barei, died of a heart attack while hunting when he was 42.

He died a year after the singer was born.

Julian’s other sons Eduardo, Ana’s grandfather, Jose Maria, Jesus and Julian have also died. Eduardo died in 1985 aged 45 of laryngeal cancer.

Of Julian’s seven children, only Milagros and Florentino remain.

However, Florentino has reportedly lost two of his children, including Inigo Reyzabal Gomez in a road accident in September 2007 before his 19th birthday.

Credit: Newsflash/@bareimusic
Barei, the singer

Pop star Barei said: “Ever since my father died when I was a year old and until now, there have been so many losses, so many dear people, and so many relatives.

“We thought the quota had already been already covered.”

Following 14-year-old Ana’s canoeing accident, her second aunt Lourdes Reyzabal said: “We have lost a beautiful girl who was just beginning to live, who had always been an angel for the family, for her parents and brothers and sisters, who are now broken with pain.”


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Lee BullenSub-EditorMichael Leidig,  Agency: Newsflash

The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.

GET THE NEW STORIE ON TIME!!!!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Signup to our Newsletter