A 36-year-old electrician from Minnesota has died after being struck by lightning while climbing a mountain in Peru during a Thanksgiving holiday trip with his family.
Tragedy Strikes During Descent
Yuri Botelho, a Brazilian-born American citizen, was on the summit of a mountain in the Machu Picchu region last Wednesday with his American friend, 41-year-old James Alexander Fernández, and a local guide. The trio had planned to cycle back down the mountain when a sudden electrical storm erupted.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Botelho was directly hit by a lightning bolt during the storm. Police, alerted by an emergency call, discovered his body among the straw later that afternoon. Fernández was found injured nearby on the roadside and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. The guide escaped with no major injuries.
A Family Holiday Turns to Crisis
Botelho had travelled to Peru with his wife, Kelsey, and their 15-month-old son, Tyson, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holidays. He had only recently become an American citizen in May of this year.
His wife, tracking his location via his watch, realised something was amiss when the device stopped moving, his brother-in-law Brett Skoog told WCCO. Kelsey is now navigating immense logistical challenges to repatriate her husband's body and return safely to Minneapolis with their young son.
As of last Friday, she had managed to transport Botelho's body to Cusco, a city roughly 50 miles from Machu Picchu. Her brother and a close friend have flown to Peru to assist her. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the family with unexpected travel, medical, and logistical expenses.
Remembering a 'Lucky' Life Cut Short
Botelho and Kelsey had been married for three years and moved from California to Minnesota this year to be closer to her family. He had started a new role as an engineering technician for the city of St. Louis Park, just outside Minneapolis, in July.
His employer issued a statement calling his death "a tremendous loss," noting he was already a "trusted and valued employee and friend." Relatives described him as a beloved family man. "Man, we were lucky to have him," said relative Mandy Skoog.
In a poignant update, it was noted that Kelsey has also been supporting the wife of the injured James Alexander Fernández during this difficult period. Botelho's father confirmed his son will be cremated in Lima, Peru, before his remains are sent back to the United States.
