12 September 2015
Bilbao Campus
Gema Tomás, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Deusto University, spoke of former law student Diego Lastra to whom tribute was paid in a newspaper article as someone who, in the Dean’s own words, ‘made a difference’.
A human error allegedly caused the death of the Getxo inhabitant Diego Lastra in the adventure-park BKZ Navarra Aventura in Elizondo (Baztan) The victim, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was on the pendulum, a ride that simulates free-fall from a 100-meter height, from which the participant jumps held by an harness.
Tomás points out that Diego Lastra “wanted to know his rights and the law in order to defend himself”. His excellent memory enabled him to study a degree at the University of Deusto. She remembers that in this sense his stay at the University was a big influence in his life.
A ground-floor room was placed at Diego’s disposition to enable him to study at the Faculty, which, at the time, had not been adapted to students with special needs as it is at present. Moreover, his family had to hire someone to assist him when attending lectures, remembers the Dean who was also his Civil Law lecturer.
“He was someone you don’t forget”. His desire to learn and his big smile were the first things you noticed... also his strength and determination, together with a great capacity to overcome challenges.
“He was well liked and was surrounded and supported by his classmates, which was very important" she points out.
Amongst her memories of him, the ovation Diego received in the Diploma Ceremony is one the most vivid.. “The acclaim was unforgettable, he made huge efforts and overcame many difficulties, and the Faculty acknowledged it with an ovation.
His desire was to continue being involved in the academic world. He was fully aware of having the responsibility to create a path for others, because he had accomplished something others could not.
Accordingly, he was involved in the project that the University of Deusto is developing with Fekoor, ‘Ciudades Amigables’ (Friendly Cities), visiting schools and universities to explain to young people the difficulties that people with functional diversity face on a day-to-day basis”, stated Gema Tomás to the newspaper El Mundo.
The University of Deusto acknowledged his efforts on September 11th, during a meeting of the partner institutions in ‘Ciudades amigables': Zerbikas Fundazioa, Institutos Bizkaia, Fekor, and the University itself.
