Former Argentine footballer Gastón Firpo and his partner Jazmín Repetto survived a horrific bus accident in Ecuador that left at least 14 people dead and dozens injured, according to multiple verified reports from Argentine media outlets.
The incident occurred on a route between Cuenca and Guayaquil when the Cooperativa San Luis bus lost control, veered off the road, and plunged into a ravine before catching fire. Firpo, who played for clubs in Argentina’s Ascenso league including Midland, San Martín de Burzaco, and Argentino de Quilmes, was traveling with Repetto when the tragedy unfolded.
According to Firpo’s account shared with TN, the bus driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash. “We were in Cuenca and decided to go to Guayaquil to continue getting to know this beautiful country, but on the way we had a very big accident. The bus lost control, the driver fell asleep and we ended up falling into a precipice,” Firpo stated in a video posted to social media.
The impact was severe, and the bus subsequently caught fire. “It was horrible, the bus caught fire and we lost all our belongings,” Repetto said in the same video. Both survivors sustained injuries: Firpo received 14 stitches in his head, while Repetto required stitches on her face and cheek.
Firpo described the aftermath in an interview with TN: “I still hurt all over my body and a little in my head, where I got 14 stitches.” He added that they are currently using a cellphone lent to them by a Cuenca taxi driver after losing their own in the accident.
The couple lost everything in the fire, including all personal possessions and travel documents, retaining only the identification they had on their persons at the time of the crash. “We were left with nothing, only the documents we had on us,” Firpo explained.
Stranded in Ecuador with no resources, Firpo and Repetto launched a social media campaign to raise funds for their return to Argentina. “We want to go home. We know many people know us and know we like to travel, so any assist is important,” Firpo said in their plea for assistance.
Firpo, who identifies as a “lifeguard” and “backpacker” on his Instagram profile, has shared images from his travels around the world, including visits to Barcelona’s stadium, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Roman Coliseum. His athletic background includes stints in Argentina’s second division with Juventud Unida, Claypole, and other Ascenso clubs.
The accident has been described as one of the most significant road tragedies in Ecuador’s recent history, with official reports confirming at least 14 fatalities and 29 injuries. Survivors’ accounts consistently detail the bus veering off the road, rolling approximately 20 meters down the embankment, and then igniting.
As of the latest reports, the couple remains in Ecuador awaiting assistance to return to Argentina while recovering from their injuries and coping with the loss of their belongings.
Their story has resonated across Spanish-language sports media, with coverage appearing in Clarín, Olé, TN, TyC Sports, and Radio Mitre, all confirming the core details of the crash, their survival, injuries, and ongoing efforts to return home.
For updates on their situation or to contribute to their return fund, followers are directed to Gastón Firpo’s verified social media accounts where the couple has been sharing their experience and appeal for help.
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