A British pilgrim has tragically died after falling into a river while traversing a renowned pilgrimage route in northern Spain. The 64-year-old individual is believed to have lost his balance while attempting to cross a makeshift bridge constructed from tree trunks near a hotel.
His body was discovered early this morning in the Robo River in Puente la Reina, a town situated between Pamplona and Estella along the famous Way of St James pilgrimage route, which leads to the Galician cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela. A local resident made the grim discovery and promptly alerted emergency services.
Police, firefighters, and medical responders rushed to the scene, but their efforts were in vain. It is suspected that the man's body may have lain undiscovered for several hours, as he had not arrived at his pre-booked accommodation for the night.
Local reports indicate that the body was found by the riverbank near Hotel Jakue, on the outskirts of Puente la Reina heading towards Pamplona. Authorities are continuing their investigation, though well-placed sources suggest that all evidence points to the death being a tragic accident.
The bridge the pilgrim attempted to cross has been described as an "improvised bridge" made of tree trunks, standing approximately 10 feet high. This incident comes after a similar tragedy in September 2019, when an Irish pilgrim drowned after taking a sunset swim in the sea at the end of his hike across northern Spain.
Architect Timothy Kelleher, 35, from Ballyvourney in County Cork, died after bathing in the treacherous Atlantic waters off the Galician town of Finisterre. He had just completed the Way of Saint James, also known as the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile journey typically starting in St Jean de Luz, France, and ending in Santiago de Compostela.
Many pilgrims who finish the five-week trek continue beyond Santiago to Cabo Finisterre, a rocky peninsula a five-day walk from the cathedral city. In Roman times, this location was believed to be the end of the known world. The tragedy involving Kelleher occurred at Mar de Fora beach, notorious for its strong currents and considered one of the most dangerous in the Finisterre area.
