Photo: Facebook: Anneli Tiirik
- The German Wings crash fell victim to Annelis friend Paul
- Paul and Anneli liked to travel around the world for their lives
- Anneli and Paul in April 2012
The German Wings crash fell victim to Annelis friend Paul
23-year-old music student Anneli Tiirik was waiting for her boyfriend Paul Bramley, who was due to arrive from Barcelona, on March 24th. But he did not come.
"I got a bad feeling. He never would have kept me waiting so long, "Anneli told The Sunday People. Has his flight been delayed? Was he canceled? No, it got worse: While Anneli was waiting for Paul, he was a passenger of the death flight 4U 9525, the Airbus A320, which crashed into the French Alps - led by Andreas Lubitz, a mentally ill co-pilot.
"After hours, Paul's aunt came. She got out of the car with handkerchiefs in her hand. I knew right away that something bad had happened, "recalls Anneli. Her worst fears came true when she learned that her boyfriend was killed. The native Brit Paul died at the age of 28. He was a year older than co-pilot Lubitz.
Anneli met Paul in Mallorca four years ago. They wanted to contract after their studies. They planned a common future. "From the first moment I met Paul, I felt we had known each other forever." Anneli loved his "warm heartiness, " she says, "Paul has always been friendly and positive, patient and caring." One of their similarities : The joy of traveling. Together they went on holiday in Paris, flying around the world: France, Norway, Denmark, Thailand, Australia, Switzerland.
Paul and Anneli liked to travel around the world for their lives
Posted by Paul Bramley on Friday, March 30, 2012
"He always said that our destiny in life was predetermined, " recalls Anneli. She loved Paul with all her heart. And his philosophy of life: "Paul always said we should not waste our lives wishing to control things that are not in our power. Instead, you should enjoy life to the fullest, "says Anneli.
This way of thinking helps her deal with the tragedy. Grudge or even hatred for the pilot, she does not feel. On the contrary: Anneli says that one should not "demonize" Andreas Lubitz . "Instead of condemning mentally ill people, we should concentrate on what we can change." Mentally ill people like Lubitz should not, in their opinion, be allowed to work in such "powerful positions, " says Anneli. It requires more flight crew checks to make flying safer.
"Mental illnesses should be treated with the same seriousness as physical ones, " says the native Estonian who studies in Birmingham, England. "Mentally ill people should be treated earlier, so you could avoid such tragedies in the future."
Anneli even asks the family of Andres Lubitz to forgive him. "I can not imagine how these people feel. I'm so sorry for them - because it's impossible to help someone who does not want to be helped. "Anneli suggests to the Lubitz family Paul's philosophy of life, " I hope they can accept that certain things in our lives are not in our power. "
Anneli and Paul in April 2012
Posted by Anneli Tiirik on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
"I will always thank Paul for teaching me to appreciate and love the little things in life, " says Anneli. The last time Anneli and Paul met in Switzerland on February 13, one day before Valentine's Day. On that day, Anneli posted on Facebook: "The last morning with my love, my best friend, my protector, my prince.
"In her last interview, Paul said he missed her and was looking forward to seeing her again soon. Anneli: "Paul always emphasized how important it is to tell the people you love every day what you feel for them - because you never know which day is the last."
