This is the story that impacted us the most at Fruit Attraction : a company that was raised in 59 days after being devastated by the DANA of 2024. We have waited to publish it so as not to take center stage from the heroes who have told their experiences in the first person on this first anniversary.
At the Patatas Aguilar stand they gave us a copy published by Robert Aguilar Jativa telling how they lived and recovered from this situation. It reminded us of the chronology of that day:
- 5:30 p.m. It starts to rain.
- 6:00 p.m. The power goes out and they are left almost in darkness, water enters that they try to bail out with buckets and mops.
- 6:30 p.m. The plant floods and all the machines stop.
- 7:00 p.m. Water enters the offices and everything that seemed safe is no longer safe.
- 7:15 p.m. They go upstairs.
- 7:30 p.m. They try to stop the impossible, opening the doors so that the water can circulate and leave.
- 20:12 The official alert arrives.
- 20:30 Some go down to see the cars and get stuck on the marquee.
- 22:00 They break the vending machines to get some food and drink to get them through the night.
- 00:30 The colleagues from the parking lot manage to return. They spend the night as best they can between the dining room and the meeting room.
- 07:00 The sun rises and through the windows they see that the water has devastated everything.
- 07:30 They leave the plant, walking, in a group, looking for a way to go home.
- 07:45 There is nothing, it’s time to walk with the same wet clothes and a tired body.
- 10:30 Family, friends and colleagues pick them up when they reach more accessible areas.
TWO DAYS WE WERE THERE. With shovels, with boots… Not out of obligation, but out of commitment. Because we would lift it together, as we always do.
59 days later, thanks to the tenacity and effort of the owners, all the employees and the help of many companies, the company was back in operation.
As a manager, as a businessman, as a worker, I don’t think you will face a tougher work experience than this, so when you are going down, remember this story. Because we all need examples to rise up.
Note: Patatas Aguilar is not our client and they are not interested in our services but their story deserves to be told.
