For three years, Adoración Rodríguez was trapped between fire and smoke inside a tiny six-square-meter bathroom, a living space she shared with her husband in the Benetússer home. The 81-year-old woman, who faced mobility challenges, used the bathroom as her only sanctuary for eating, sleeping, and tending to her basic needs. Her reliance on the cramped room stemmed from her limited movement and incontinence, leading to a voluntary decision to remain in that small space within the house.
At her relatives’ urging to move her into a dormitory, the case has now moved into the hands of the prosecutor. Social services noted that the woman, who was legally capable, continued to live by her own choice in these dire conditions, while her husband, also disabled due to a congenital leg condition, remained apart from her and was in the midst of separation proceedings.
Frequent disputes between the couple were underscored by neighbors and property residents, who reported repeated visits by local authorities. The Benetússer Local Police intervened on multiple occasions, addressing complaints about noise in the bathroom, accusations laced with insults, and the eventual escalation when the husband said he was kept out of the home. The volatile situation cast a shadow over the property and its occupants.
With conflicting marriage histories and the discovery of a burned body, investigators initially considered foul play, but early evidence from a home inspection by the Civil Guard led to a reassessment, pending autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.
“We warned him that something bad could happen, given his constant barbecue use”
It appears the fire began accidentally in a brazier used by the elderly resident to stay warm. A relative lamented that the device remained plugged in around the clock, admitting, “We had already warned him that someday there would be misfortune.” The family member described how the excessive use had already caused several barbecues to burn, requiring replacements every couple of months, as the caretaker prepared meals for the elderly woman inside the bathroom.
The elderly woman was discovered in the bathroom, lying under a blanket that caught fire, her mobility limitations preventing her from escaping in time. Her spouse, also disabled, was evacuated after being affected by smoke and managed to reach the bathroom area in an improvised attempt to rescue her, but nothing could be done to save her life.
The husband reported the fire at around midnight, contacting emergency services at 00:00, with responders arriving at Plaza Lepanto number one in Benetússer. Local police arrived within minutes, rescuing the 86-year-old man, while firefighters, the Valencia Provincial Consortium, Civil Guard personnel, and medical teams joined the scene. Although the residence was cleared and the area secured, the woman was found deceased in the bathroom after the flames were suppressed and entry was gained.
Husband rescued and treated while his wife’s condition worsened
A large emergency operation followed, with firefighters, civil protection units, and a SAMU ambulance on site, along with Basic Life Support teams. The surviving spouse, exposed to smoke, was taken to Doctor Peset Hospital in Valencia for treatment, and the couple’s 53-year-old daughter suffered an anxiety attack. In total, six people received medical evaluation, and four police officers endured smoke exposure during the rescue attempt.
“A Frustration That Built Up”
Relatives described the situation as heavy and deeply frustrating, noting their efforts to persuade Adoración to consider a residential facility or at least relocate from the bathroom. Social services from the city council were reviewing the case and proposing alternatives, but the couple remained largely isolated from outside support. The husband’s perspective showed a mix of fatigue and care for his wife, even as the strain of the situation intensified.
A neighbor explained that the husband would retreat to the bar or sit on a square bench to avoid the couple’s arguments. After the incident, locals observed a shock of disbelief at the rescue, with one remarking that the wife was waking up again and that the husband had long worried about her condition. The community tone reflected both sympathy and unease over the long period of isolation and the tragic outcome.