Bermuda residents Mr. and Mrs. Gualberto Sanchez.

The Sanchez's new-born son Gualberto and his uncle were in the back seat of the car, but were thrown out as the car plunged off a cliff on one of the country's dirt roads. They remained in serious condition in hospital on Monday.

The couple is also survived by their teenaged children Jasmina and Edison who live in Ecuador and Mr. Sanchez' brothers Jorge and Raoul and a cousin Elma who all live in Bermuda.

Mr. Sanchez and his wife Leonore were employees of Karl's Guys `n' Dolls for 20 years and were fondly remembered yesterday by the clothes store's owners Mr. and Mrs. Karl Madl.

Mr. Madl said Mr. Sanchez was a hardworking, dependable and very helpful employee. He said his wife was quiet and did not like to impose on anyone.

Mr. Sanchez was regarded as a "godfather'' by many Ecuadorians who came here in the 1960s and 1970s to work in the hotels, Mr. Madl said.

"He was like a son to me,'' Mrs. Maria Madl said. She also recalled how Mr.

Sanchez gave his tailoring services free to St. Brendan's Hospital at Christmas and to those short of money.

Arriving in Bermuda from Ecuador in about 1965, Mr. Sanchez first worked as a waiter at the Elbow Beach Hotel before going to work for Karl's Guys `n' Dolls. His wife came with their son and daughter five years later and worked with her husband as a seamstress.

The couple lived on Bostock Hill in Paget. Their children attended Paget Primary and Whitney Institute.

The couple returned to their native Ecuador last November to open their own business.

They had been returning from a family gathering on Friday when the car accidentally went over the cliff. A funeral was held in Ecuador on Sunday.