{
  "id": 14921140,
  "title": "'I'm fortunate to be alive' - Merino relives bus attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/im-fortunate-to-be-alive-merino-relives-bus-attack-14921140",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-16T09:20:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/im-fortunate-alive-merino-relives-092039555.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino credits a last-minute change of seats on the team coach for what could have been his fatal injury while he was with Borussia Dortmund. In 2017, the team's bus was targeted by three bombs filled with metal pins during the Champions League semi-final match against Monaco. The blast caused a large piece of shrapnel to embed in the headrest of the seat Merino typically sat in. However, Merino opted to switch to a seat further back where the seats reclined, which he believes may have saved his life.\n\nMerino, now 32, spoke about his harrowing experience in an interview with The Players' Tribune, expressing gratitude for surviving the attack. He stated, \"I think I have an angel on my shoulder. I'm actually fortunate to be alive at all.\" The attack left a lasting impact on the players involved, with many struggling to comprehend the severity of the event.\n\nFollowing the incident, Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel postponed the match against Monaco, a decision criticized by Tuchel. Among the injured were team-mate Marc Bartra, who required surgery for a broken wrist. The match was eventually postponed until the next day, leading to widespread criticism.\n\nMerino's remarkable comeback story continues to inspire, as he recovered from a stress fracture in his right foot and led Spain to World Cup victory just five months after the attack. His resilience and determination have been evident throughout his career, as he recently returned to action for Arsenal in their Premier League title-winning campaign.",
  "summary": "Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino reflects on the attack on Dortmund's team bus in 2017, when he was 20 years old.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "'I'm fortunate to be alive' - Merino relives bus attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/im-fortunate-to-be-alive-merino-relives-bus-attack",
        "published": "2026-10-16T09:16:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Almost ten years on: Arsenal star Merino reflects on 2017 Dortmund bus attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/almost-ten-years-on-arsenal-star-merino-reflects-on-2017-dortmund-bus",
        "published": "2026-10-16T10:53:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}