Death on the trail today

[topochines2012]

We were about 45 minutes from O Cebreiro today and we came upon a group performing CPR. We called emergency but no ambulance came and over an hour later a helicopter showed up but it was too late. I don’t have any details beyond that but it shook all of us. It occurred a few hundred meters from La Laguna de Castilla.

 

[dbier]

Topochines....you all, they all, did your best.

Depending upon the age of the victim and the reason for the arrest, the percentages of people saved by CPR are much less than 50%. And that's even when advanced life support shows up within minutes.

The reason we do CPR is because, sometimes, you can catch lightning in a bottle. Any chance is usually better than no chance. But those of us who've had to do it more than once know that we get very few back.

Feel free to PM me if talking will help you.

 

[lovingkindness]

R.I.P. dear pilgrim...

 

[Robo]

Sad News. R.I.P. Pilgrim.....

 

[alexwalker]

If I end my life on the Camino, I will at least have left this life while doing something spectacular and close to my heart. Much preferred to a lonely deteriorated life in a nursing home.

Not bad.

JMHO and my 0.02 €.

Other than that, I am of course very sorry for the fate of the deceased pilgrim.

 

[Lexicos]

They passed away doing a thing they love, and that's something.
May they rest in peace.

 

[Sushumna]

Thank you for trying to save our dear friend Michael's life today. I think it is him you are referring to. We are in shock and will miss him massively. He was a remarkable man.
And he died doing what he loved. Rest in peace dear Michael.

 

[Kiwi-family]

@Sushumna I am sorry for your loss.

 

[David Tallan]

May their memory be a blessing to their loved ones.

 

[gordon1]

So sad. A massive thank you to the people who helped him in his last moments.

 

[Sd217]

Godspeed Pilgrim

 

[backlasher]

So sorry to hear this but a big "thank you" to those who helped.

 

[mcm]

Thank you for trying to save our dear friend Michael's life today. I think it is him you are referring to. We are in shock and will miss him massively. He was a remarkable man.
And he died doing what he loved. Rest in peace dear Michael.

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your friend, Michael. May St James greet him and God's mercy envelope him.

 

[NJohn]

I’m so very sorry @Sushumna
@topochines2012 , thank you and all that were there to help and assist.

 

[RobinGore]

They passed away doing a thing they love, and that's something.
May they rest in peace.

true, I wouldn't mind going out the same way

 

[Morgan Rosas]

My condolences to you and all who are experiencing Michael's loss. I praise to God for carrying Michael on his journey to the Father. This is our Journey too whether our goal is Santiago or simply to enjoy cafe con leche, our journey is to be with our Father in heaven through Jesus Christ Who is El Camino, La Verdad y La Vida! Ultreia et Suseia

 

[jrewins]

It is a sad (for the loved ones left behind) fact of our lives that all lives will have an end to this existence. Most of us don’t get to choose when or how that occurs, so whatever you might believe about what happens next, we all can take comfort when someone leaves while doing something they love.

RIP, Peregrino…Buen Camino.

 

[mattythedog]

Topochines....you all, they all, did your best.

Depending upon the age of the victim and the reason for the arrest, the percentages of people saved by CPR are much less than 50%. And that's even when advanced life support shows up within minutes.

The reason we do CPR is because, sometimes, you can catch lightning in a bottle. Any chance is usually better than no chance. But those of us who've had to do it more than once know that we get very few back.

Feel free to PM me if talking will help you.

I have read 3%. I cannot think of a better way to go than on the Camino.

 

[Tincatinker]

Buen Camino peregrino Michael

 

[Bothydave]

Topochines....you all, they all, did your best.

Depending upon the age of the victim and the reason for the arrest, the percentages of people saved by CPR are much less than 50%. And that's even when advanced life support shows up within minutes.

The reason we do CPR is because, sometimes, you can catch lightning in a bottle. Any chance is usually better than no chance. But those of us who've had to do it more than once know that we get very few back.

Feel free to PM me if talking will help you.

Well said. As a one who has also performed CPR numerous times it is exhausting physically and mentally.
I have revived people only for paramedics to have lost them eventually. Key to survival is prompt modern medial intervention.

Well done to those that attempted to work on the now deceased.

 

[walkcam2]

We were about 45 minutes from O Cebreiro today and we came upon a group performing CPR. We called emergency but no ambulance came and over an hour later a helicopter showed up but it was too late. I don’t have any details beyond that but it shook all of us. It occurred a few hundred meters from La Laguna de Castilla.

Sincere condolences on the loss of your friend

 

[ddowney]

Topochines....you all, they all, did your best.

Depending upon the age of the victim and the reason for the arrest, the percentages of people saved by CPR are much less than 50%. And that's even when advanced life support shows up within minutes.

The reason we do CPR is because, sometimes, you can catch lightning in a bottle. Any chance is usually better than no chance. But those of us who've had to do it more than once know that we get very few back.

Feel free to PM me if talking will help you.

Many parts of the Way are remote and vehicle-inaccessible. I've imagined how difficult it would be for emergency help to get to someone who fell or had a heart attack. Say the Rosary while walking for that departed soul.

 

[Sushumna]

Thank you dear Pilgrims for your many kind and loving thoughts and messages. They bring great comfort. I will impart them to all who loved Michael here in the community Findhorn, Scotland, where he lived. At the time of his cremation that will happen in Spain today or tomorrow, his dear friend JL and four pilgrims (who were present at the time of his passing) will sing Taize songs, and we will join them here in the community. Michael loved to sing. Thank you for somehow through this thread bringing his experience of walking the Camino and the last chapter of his life closer.

 

[RobinGore]

Thank you for trying to save our dear friend Michael's life today. I think it is him you are referring to. We are in shock and will miss him massively. He was a remarkable man.
And he died doing what he loved. Rest in peace dear Michael.

So sorry Sushumna, had you guys started in Sarrià? So so sorry.

 

[Jim Porter]

We were about 45 minutes from O Cebreiro today and we came upon a group performing CPR. We called emergency but no ambulance came and over an hour later a helicopter showed up but it was too late. I don’t have any details beyond that but it shook all of us. It occurred a few hundred meters from La Laguna de Castilla.

Hi Friend,
Sorry for your experience. We share a similar event from 2023; I can let you know from our experience that the presence of God along the Camino has a way of healing even our most traumatic moments. Right now, you are moving a pace (3 miles an hour, I suppose?) that promotes healing and restoration. Treasure life.

 

[Kirkie]

And, if I am not mistaken, Findhorn also connects with a faithful pilgrim who showed the way along many pilgrim paths... John Brierley.
May Michael and John be enjoying what some hope for...

 

[bcamino]

Thank you to those of you expressing their condolences, and for those who stopped to help Michael and Jean Luc yesterday. My own deepest condolences to those of Michael's friends and family back home. I have only known him a few short weeks but he was an incredible soul and will truly be missed.

It was a tragic moment, but the love shown by so many, both strangers and acquaintances, is appreciated by all.

I am currently with Jean Luc in Ponferrada and we are arranging for a short service to be held before the cremation tomorrow, between 10:00-12:00, if anyone would like to take a moment for Michael during their walk tomorrow.

 

[Tgoldhill]

Sincere condolences on the loss of your friend

R.I.P, Peregrino.

 

[bullingtonce]

Topochines....you all, they all, did your best.

Depending upon the age of the victim and the reason for the arrest, the percentages of people saved by CPR are much less than 50%. And that's even when advanced life support shows up within minutes.

The reason we do CPR is because, sometimes, you can catch lightning in a bottle. Any chance is usually better than no chance. But those of us who've had to do it more than once know that we get very few back.

Feel free to PM me if talking will help you.

Thank you for this statistic. I had no clue previously. Chuck

 

[bullingtonce]

Thank you for this statistic. I had no clue previously. Chuck

Your implied point is appreciated. Sometimes, when death is encountered, it is as if a person, "What's going on here? I am shocked." When the fact of the matter is that death is as common as birth and is just an integral and important part of life as birth. One might say that death is even miraculous as birth as life without death would be hell magnified a thousand times over.
This is not to make light of death or to ignore the effects and repurcussions of death, especially when loved ones are involved. Medical people deal with this day in and day out and do not go crazy or go insane. Death, from one perspective, is to be treasured and welcomed. It has always been with mankind and always will be; therefore, one might say the appropriate thing to do is to learn how to put death in the proper perspective.
Sorry, too much babbling and I have no idea where I am going with this.
Chuck

 

[DenWhite]

Buen Camino. RIP.

 

[Gerard Griffin]

There's a clinic in Pedrafita a 15 minute drive from La Laguna. An hour for an ambulance is too long. In this sad case it probably wouldn't have made any difference, but part of the Camino infrastructure should be arrangements in place for an ambulance, or failing that any vehicle, to respond quicky to medical emergencies which occur on the Camino.

Many elderly people are walking the Way and such events will recur. Local authorities should review their procedures and put the best possible arrangements in place. Even if one life could be saved it would be worth it, and such plans would not be expensive, they'd just involve better communication.