Aziz Benharref, a 42-year-old Moroccan-Canadian, was buried Sunday in El Jadida after losing his life in the Lisbon funicular crash that killed 16 people. He was repatriated under royal instructions. His wife, Hind Iguernane, who survived with serious injuries, recalled how a simple gesture from him saved her life and now faces recovery while grieving his loss. On Sunday in El Jadida, Aziz Benharref was laid to rest among family and loved ones, following his tragic death in the Lisbon funicular crash on September 3, which claimed 16 lives. The Moroccan-Canadian's body was repatriated under royal instructions, according to Hespress, which attended the burial in his hometown. Benharref, 42, who had been living in Orléans, Ottawa, was vacationing in Portugal with his wife, Hind Iguernane, when the tragedy struck. Hind, who survived the crash, later recounted how what began as a romantic getaway suddenly turned into a nightmare. More than a month later, the Moroccan widow told Radio Canada how her husband saved her life that day with a simple gesture. The couple had boarded the famous Gloria funicular, unaware it would be their last ride together. From her hospital bed in Lisbon, she recalled how Aziz had insisted they try it, even though she wasn't keen. «I'm not adventurous and I don't like the unexpected», she said. A widow's painful testimony Around 6 p.m., they entered the wooden cabin, sat together at the back, and even took a selfie. They then switched seats so Hind could sit more comfortably by the window. Moments later, she heard a strange noise. She admitted feeling uneasy and told her husband she was scared. He tried to reassure her, saying it was normal. But then she noticed the driver, visibly panicking as he struggled with the steering wheel, his sunglasses slipping to the ground. What happened next remains a blur. «It all went so fast, people screaming everywhere», she recalled. The funicular, unable to stop, hurtled downhill before violently crashing into a building. «I opened my eyes and screamed Aziz's name», she said. «I couldn't turn around because there was some kind of beam separating us. I could see the color of his T-shirt out of the corner of my eye. There was no blood, nothing visible, but it was his back. I reached out and screamed for help». Hind drifted in and out of consciousness before passersby pulled her out and rushed her to the hospital. In the chaos, she lost her phone and was unable to contact her family. «The only thing I wanted was my husband». Unable to remember phone numbers, she eventually managed to email her brother in Canada, who launched appeals on social media as friends searched Lisbon's hospitals for Aziz. «I prayed for him and hoped he was alive. But the first night, nothing. The second night, nothing. On the third day, in the evening, I knew. It was his brother who told me, with a psychologist present. My heart was in pieces». Living with trauma Aziz had moved to Canada six years earlier with Hind, who holds permanent residency. They had dreamed of building a life together. «He was a generous man, a bon vivant», she remembered. For now, Hind is focused on her recovery, including a broken hip that prevents her from walking. Even short ambulance rides in Lisbon trigger flashbacks. «Lisbon is all downhill. It gives me exactly the same feeling of panic as the day of the accident», she shared. Cleared to travel to Casablanca, she will continue her treatment there. «I don't think about my future. Contrary to my nature, I've learned to take things day by day, minute by minute. I miss him terribly. I listen to his voice, look at his face in photos, because now they're just memories. And I want to tell people: really enjoy your loved ones». Back in Canada, Hind's friends and colleagues have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her. Managed by her brother, it aims to cover medical expenses, essentials, and day-to-day needs as she continues her recovery.
