Death of a German pilgrim on the Camino Frances

[Bradypus]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

 

[malingerer]

R.I.P Pilgrim.

Samarkand.

 

[Bradypus]

A later article has stated that the man was a German national aged 69 and had been walking with his daughter.

Fallece un peregrino en Vega de Valcarce en plena ola de calor

Todo apunta a "causas naturales", según el Sacyl, que envió un helicóptero y una ambulancia para atender al hombre, un varón de nacionalidad alemana y 69 años que realizaba el Camino de Santiago, junto a su hija, y que había empezado esta etapa en Villafranca del Bierzo. | Cadena SER

cadenaser.com

 

[ivar]

A later article has stated that the man was a German national aged 69 and had been walking with his daughter.

Fallece un peregrino en Vega de Valcarce en plena ola de calor

Todo apunta a "causas naturales", según el Sacyl, que envió un helicóptero y una ambulancia para atender al hombre, un varón de nacionalidad alemana y 69 años que realizaba el Camino de Santiago, junto a su hija, y que había empezado esta etapa en Villafranca del Bierzo. | Cadena SER

cadenaser.com

It has been very warm out there... be careful pilgrims!

 

[RJM]

RIP peregrino.
Pilgrims planning on going in July, it can get very warm...hot that month and very dry. Be prepared with the right clothing and stay hydrated. Heat related injury can sneak up on you. I got heat exhaustion once in the army. IV administered and everything. Not fun.

 

[Roland49]

RIP fellow Pilgrim.

Möge er in Frieden ruhen!

 

[amancio]

The heat and also the volume of heavy traffic on that road make that stretch worse than usual; one of those really high bridges on the way up to Piedrafita do Cebreiro has collapsed and the traffic along the Valcarce valley must have noticeably increased these days. Rest in peace, peregrino!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

A later article has stated that the man was a German national aged 69 and had been walking with his daughter.

Fallece un peregrino en Vega de Valcarce en plena ola de calor

Todo apunta a "causas naturales", según el Sacyl, que envió un helicóptero y una ambulancia para atender al hombre, un varón de nacionalidad alemana y 69 años que realizaba el Camino de Santiago, junto a su hija, y que había empezado esta etapa en Villafranca del Bierzo. | Cadena SER

cadenaser.com

How very sad, and especially unfortunate that his daughter had to witness the loss of her father on what had been most likely a wonderful bonding experience just moments prior.

 

[dimdog]

RIP fellow perigrino.......
Always a little further

 

[sarahchicago]

So sad to learn this. We are 2-3 days ahead of la lagunas and the description sounds like a lovely father and daughter we had dinner with in Torres del rio and chatted with many times as we crossed paths until we pulled ahead 10 days ago.

 

[Bala]

So sad. May he rest in peace. And I prayers for peace and courage for his daughter and loved ones.

 

[CWBuff]

It has been very warm out there... be careful pilgrims!

More like scorching hot
I walked into Villafranca del Bierzo today so am only 1 day behind this unfortunate soul...and being only one day off it is possible that our paths may have crossed at some point (I met a good number of father/daughter teams)
In any case the Temps have been hovering in the mid to upper 30s for the last couple of days; I even saw one Farmacia displaying 40
You can start feeling it by 10:30 or so by noon it's pretty darn hot and by 14:00 SIMPLY UNBEARABLE.... Nights are not better spent in albergues with no A/C and little if any ventilation (not a complaint per se merely stating the facts)

 

[Camino Chrissy]

More like scorching

Hi CW,
I happened to see your blog on FindPenguins so have read some of your writing and viewed many of your pictures. I really feel for those of you who have been walking in what appears to be nearly unbearable heat.
I hope your Camino is still all you have hoped it would be in spite of this temporary adversity.

 

[Bill's_Walking]

Rest in in peace Pilgrim.

 

[Bradypus]

Another news post today records the death of another pilgrim on the Camino Frances last Saturday. Aaron Hewitt, a 46 year old man from South Carolina. Aaron died near Torres del Rio after becoming ill with what appears to have been a heart attack.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article262496367.html

[Moderator note: Please see this separate thread about the American pilgrim who died.]

 

[jennysa]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

Rest in peace pilgrim

 

[JohnLloyd]

Such sad news to hear.

 

[NancyZ]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Descansa en paz, peregrino.

 

[SamDel]

Rest in eternal peace Pilgrim. Heartfelt condolences to the daughter and family

 

[Mary Joy O'Meara]

How very sad, and especially unfortunate that his daughter had to witness the loss of her father on what had been most likely a wonderful bonding experience just moments prior.

Perhaps sad, but perhaps not. Personally, my hope is that, when my time comes, I am walking on the Camino. To me, that would be perfect.

 

[Albertagirl]

For me, life is a journey. The camino has shown me, in various ways, something of where I am going. But the departure can be difficult for those who must say "goodbye", as well as for the pilgrim.

 

[PilgrimJames]

A later article has stated that the man was a German national aged 69 and had been walking with his daughter.

Fallece un peregrino en Vega de Valcarce en plena ola de calor

Todo apunta a "causas naturales", según el Sacyl, que envió un helicóptero y una ambulancia para atender al hombre, un varón de nacionalidad alemana y 69 años que realizaba el Camino de Santiago, junto a su hija, y que había empezado esta etapa en Villafranca del Bierzo. | Cadena SER

cadenaser.com

So sad to learn this news. Rest peacefully Pilgrim. RIP. My sincere condolences to his daughter and to all his loved ones.

 

[PrayerPose25]

Does anyone know if it was the partially blind man with the trolley he pulled behind him? I walked and stayed with them in several albergues and if it’s him, he was soaking in every minute and happy to share the experience with his daughter. Whether it was or wasn’t, many prayers for his family.

 

[dutchwalkagain]

We’re currently in rabanal.
And it’s indeed HOT ! I decided today to break up the next stage in 2 days . Just 10 km a day till this heat is gone . We too are in our 60’s and I feel it’s too much for us to walk 20/25 km
In this heat . We got umbrellas and they help a bit but going uphill in 85/90 degrees ….?!?! . SO sad for all involved in these tragedies. RIP pilgrim and all strength to especially his daughter who was with him

 

[Shinobi42]

Ruhe in Frieden, Pilger!

My thoughts are with him and also with his daughter. I am planning to have a camino with my daughter some years later when she is grown up. Currently she is 12. Because of my health condition this sad scenario is something that I have to face as a risk. But for me it would be a nice ending to go home to my maker on the camino. Santiago or Finisterre are not the end of our pilgrimage of life.

My next camino I will dedicate to a man from the US that has walked the distance of the Camino Francés in his own garden. He is dying of cancer. I will light a candle for him in the cathedral and maybe there is a certain chance to get a Compostela for him. I'll try ...

 

[JCarpenter]

Hydrate hydrate hydrate and don't skip breakfast.

 

[lt56ny]

It has been very warm out there... be careful pilgrims!

I too send my most heartfelt love to the family of this man and the young man who is referenced in another post who also had a suspected heart attack and passed away.
As I get older, Ivar and I am retired and have the luxury of picking when I can walk I absolultely refuse to walk in late Spring through the middle of October. Things have just gotten too insane with the heat worldwide, I walked the VDLP last year and started about October 15th from Sevilla and it was still brutal for over almost 2 weeks. Early on I was carrying 3 liters of water that I would freeze the night before in the albergue. It is very difficult to find a shady spot to get out of the sun. I left very early but still was subjected to over 30 degree weather every day. If you are walking to the store or sitting in a shady outdoor cafe 30+ can be pleasant but all day on the Camino? For me at my age especially I would prefer to walk at a different time of year. That heat is dangerous and exhausting for everyone.

 

[sarahchicago]

Yes, but the OP's link was of a father, age 65 walking with his daughter. There have been two deaths of men reported, unfortunately. The 46 year old man had no children. There has been another thread about him and he was loved by many people.

The updated news story indicates the German pilgrim who died near Las lagunas was 69 and had previous heart problems. The German father -daughter pair my husband and I got to know between roncesvalles and Carrion de los condes (when we started speeding up) matches this description. He was 69 and his daughter said he had had a heart attack a few years ago. In any case, these are extraordinarily sad events and I hope their families find some peace.

 

[USMC-Pilgrim]

R.I.P Pilgrim.

Samarkand.

I was a few kilometers in front of them day of event. It was very hot and combined with the climb it was quite a challenge. I stayed over at La Laguna and watched a parade of taxis flow in to take pilgrims the short ride to O’Cebreio. Prayers for his loved ones as they deal with the loss.

 

[chunter]

So very sad. Heartfelt condolences to this family.

 

[pererin]

It is very sad indeed. I hope that they had experienced great Camino moments together, they will be key memories to help and support the journey onward in her life.

 

[Dinnie]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

So sad to this. May he RIP.

 

[cathietherese]

RIP and deep sympathy and prayers to his bereaved loved ones.
Catherine and Tim.

 

[AnaRosario]

RIP, buen camino amigo

 

[nycwalking]

RIP pilgrim.

Praying his daughter finds strength during this tough time.

 

[SantiagoCruzB]

Rest in peace fellow pilgrims. God bless!

 

[llonya]

Rest in peace, my friend.

 

[JAOliver]

I was there when this happened. Passed by after they declared him deceased and were waiting for emergency helicopter to get him off the trail. It was horribly sad. It was just before La Faba on the very steep, rocky, slippery, and extremely hot that day section. I believe he collapsed around 11am, and I passed by about an hour later. Again at that point CPR had been stopped and they were just waiting for the helicopter. They had a dog with them. I stayed in La Faba that night and saw the daughter and dog at my albergue. Gave her a huge hug and condolences. Very sad

 

[Helen Robinson]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

So sad. Rest in peace. Thoughts to his daughter.

 

[PrayerPose25]

I was there when this happened. Passed by after they declared him deceased and were waiting for emergency helicopter to get him off the trail. It was horribly sad. It was just before La Faba on the very steep, rocky, slippery, and extremely hot that day section. I believe he collapsed around 11am, and I passed by about an hour later. Again at that point CPR had been stopped and they were just waiting for the helicopter. They had a dog with them. I stayed in La Faba that night and saw the daughter and dog at my albergue. Gave her a huge hug and condolences. Very sad

Did the man have a wheelbarrow/trolley with him that he pulled by a belt on his waist by any chance? I’m trying to figure out if it was a father/daughter that I walked with off and on and stayed with at a couple albergues. Regardless, it’s tragic.

 

[JAOliver]

I do not think so. They had a white dog with them.

 

[PrayerPose25]

Thank you for replying. And thank you for your kindness to the daughter. Prayers.

 

[sarahchicago]

I was there when this happened. Passed by after they declared him deceased and were waiting for emergency helicopter to get him off the trail. It was horribly sad. It was just before La Faba on the very steep, rocky, slippery, and extremely hot that day section. I believe he collapsed around 11am, and I passed by about an hour later. Again at that point CPR had been stopped and they were just waiting for the helicopter. They had a dog with them. I stayed in La Faba that night and saw the daughter and dog at my albergue. Gave her a huge hug and condolences. Very sad

Oh no. This is, indeed, the lovely dad and daughter duo that my husband and I had dinner with in Torres del rio and spoke with many times over a 2 week period. Their adorable dog, Franck, ( a girl dog) was a sweet and faithful companion to them both. The dad clearly adored his smart, vivacious daughter (we don’t speak German and he didn’t speak English, so we spoke to and through his daughter each time we were together). I’m so terribly sad to learn this was, after all, the pair I thought it might be.

 

[sarahchicago]

I was there when this happened. Passed by after they declared him deceased and were waiting for emergency helicopter to get him off the trail. It was horribly sad. It was just before La Faba on the very steep, rocky, slippery, and extremely hot that day section. I believe he collapsed around 11am, and I passed by about an hour later. Again at that point CPR had been stopped and they were just waiting for the helicopter. They had a dog with them. I stayed in La Faba that night and saw the daughter and dog at my albergue. Gave her a huge hug and condolences. Very sad

Did you get the dad’s name? I know they were from the Hamburg area and would like to send her a condolence card. I can find the obit online but am forgetting his name

 

[JAOliver]

Sarah-I am sorry, but I didn't get their names.

 

[sdrn]

I walked with them heading into Logrono toward the end of May. I recall that his name was Klaus and that he was a baker. The daughter, Louisa (?), said her dad wanted to get going around 3:30 or 4:00am because that’s when he usually got out of bed. Buen Camino for his final journey, and condolences to Louisa and Franck.

 

[Lynnhardy]

Perhaps sad, but perhaps not. Personally, my hope is that, when my time comes, I am walking on the Camino. To me, that would be perfect.

 

[Lynnhardy]

I can see that but maybe older than 60,s.

 

[Jagdev D.]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

May your soul Rest In Peace !

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

May your soul Rest In Peace Pilgrim !

 

[Zordmot]

Such a tragedy serves as a reminder of the brevity of time we parents have with our children and also with our parents and how special it is to share memories such as walking the camino together. It also serves as a reminder to all of us oldsters of the importance of that annual check-up and of letting our loved ones know what our desires would be if our heart should stop.

 

[Jagdev D.]

More like scorching hot
I walked into Villafranca del Bierzo today so am only 1 day behind this unfortunate soul...and being only one day off it is possible that our paths may have crossed at some point (I met a good number of father/daughter teams)
In any case the Temps have been hovering in the mid to upper 30s for the last couple of days; I even saw one Farmacia displaying 40
You can start feeling it by 10:30 or so by noon it's pretty darn hot and by 14:00 SIMPLY UNBEARABLE.... Nights are not better spent in albergues with no A/C and little if any ventilation (not a complaint per se merely stating the facts)

More like scorching hot
I walked into Villafranca del Bierzo today so am only 1 day behind this unfortunate soul...and being only one day off it is possible that our paths may have crossed at some point (I met a good number of father/daughter teams)
In any case the Temps have been hovering in the mid to upper 30s for the last couple of days; I even saw one Farmacia displaying 40
You can start feeling it by 10:30 or so by noon it's pretty darn hot and by 14:00 SIMPLY UNBEARABLE.... Nights are not better spent in albergues with no A/C and little if any ventilation (not a complaint per se merely stating the facts)

I completed my CF two weeks ago, at 72 , walking in the afternoon to Mansilla de las Mullas on a hot day , to Leon and between other places, during the heat wave in 38c was pure hell , but Camino Gods also give you strength , with determination and grit , I made it from SJPP to Santiago in 34 days. Wishing all pilgrims contented , safe and and enjoyable Camino. take care, BUEN CAMINO.

 

[Zordmot]

Perhaps sad, but perhaps not. Personally, my hope is that, when my time comes, I am walking on the Camino. To me, that would be perfect.

Perfect for you maybe but not for the rest of us !

 

[Annetom]

Rip. Best wishes to his family and friends.

 

[Sandrapf99]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

RIP

 

[movinmaggie]

A later article has stated that the man was a German national aged 69 and had been walking with his daughter.

Fallece un peregrino en Vega de Valcarce en plena ola de calor

Todo apunta a "causas naturales", según el Sacyl, que envió un helicóptero y una ambulancia para atender al hombre, un varón de nacionalidad alemana y 69 años que realizaba el Camino de Santiago, junto a su hija, y que había empezado esta etapa en Villafranca del Bierzo. | Cadena SER

cadenaser.com

I'd read recently of the extreme heat in Spain and instantly thought a silent prayer for protection of all pilgrims currently on the Camino. My sympathies go out to his daughter.

 

[Albertagirl]

Over the last day or two I have been hearing on the Canadian media of high temperatures in Spain, accompanied by wildfires. I did not hear of a specific location for the fires.

 

[PrayerPose25]

The fires are in the north of Spain. I’m in Cacabelos now and have been experiencing hazy skies for the last several days, along with the smell of smoke from time to time. And of course, the heat. The intense heat.

 

[Mycroft]

I was there when this happened. Passed by after they declared him deceased and were waiting for emergency helicopter to get him off the trail. It was horribly sad. It was just before La Faba on the very steep, rocky, slippery, and extremely hot that day section. I believe he collapsed around 11am, and I passed by about an hour later. Again at that point CPR had been stopped and they were just waiting for the helicopter. They had a dog with them. I stayed in La Faba that night and saw the daughter and dog at my albergue. Gave her a huge hug and condolences. Very sad

And how are you doing, JAOliver, after seeing this sad sight?

 

[SabsP]

Over the last day or two I have been hearing on the Canadian media of high temperatures in Spain, accompanied by wildfires. I did not hear of a specific location for the fires.

If you follow El Pais or El Mundo you will see the updates.

Empeora el incendio en Zamora tras quemar 20.000 hectáreas: “La sierra se ha quedado hecha ceniza”

El fuerte viento del sur extiende el fuego y obliga a evacuar cinco nuevas localidades y a cortar la línea del AVE

elpais.com

Also in Catalunya.

Un detenido por causar cinco incendios en Lleida mientras los Bomberos de Cataluña trabajan en la extinción de 30 fuegos simultáneos

Los Mossos d'Esquadra han detenido este sábado a un hombre de 25 años por presuntamente provocar cinco fuegos, que han sido sofocados, en la localidad de Navès, una zona...

www.elmundo.es

 

[jsolomon44]

So sad. May he rest in peace. And I prayers for peace and courage for his daughter and loved ones.

May your soul Rest In Peace !

May your soul Rest In Peace Pilgrim !

RIP. Ultreia Pilgram.

 

[Kathy F.]

To pass onto the next Camino while doing one here must be a special kind of blessing. Peace and strength to him and his family.

 

[Angelo]

So sad to read about this.. Rest In Peace.

 

[Pronetowander]

Local news sources have reported the death of a pilgrim today while walking between Villafranca del Bierzo and O Cebreiro. A 65 year old foreign man who apparently fainted and died of natural causes.

Un peregrino de 65 años fallece por causas naturales en Vega de Valcarce | leonoticias.com

El fallecido, una varón extranjero, se encontraba en una zona de difícil acceso y fue movilizado el helicóptero del Sacyl | El hombre sufrió un desvanecimiento mientras

www.leonoticias.com

I pray for his family at this difficult time. May he rest in peace and find many beautiful Camino's to walk in his heavenly home. A reminder for me to live each day to the full and give thanks for the gift of life and the pilgrims God has given me.

 

[Delphinoula]

Herzliches Beileid.
My heart goes out to the family. It is hart to loose a loved one when you so not expect it. I have been there. Hart for you and your dog.
I had very reasently a close call.
For myself we go when we are called. I hope I can pass while I do something I love like walking the camino. That would be grace for me.

 

[Annetom]

Sad news. May God give his family the support they need..