A tragic event linked to the Mérida state after the hiker Luis Gerardo Sánchez Useche, 59, originally from the Táchira state, who participated in the popular Miafafi Ultra mountain race was found lifeless.
Shortly after the start of the race, a strong snowfall began to cover the area, hindering visibility and putting participants at risk, Caraota Digital said, citing the local media reporters in Mérida.
“It began to snow in the area a few minutes after the race began,” official sources said. The situation forced the organizers to officially suspend the event two hours after the beginning to avoid further risks, Caraota Digital said.
Both Sánchez and five other competitors were lost after the snowfall
Despite this, some runners remained in the field and were disoriented due to extreme weather conditions. This caused Sánchez and six other competitors to be lost in the middle of the mountain, which led to a rescue operation by the authorities.
This fact forced intense search work, coordinated by local emergency bodies. After several hours, they found Sánchez without vital signs near the Collado del Cóndor.
Meanwhile, the teams managed to rescue five other participants: Leonardo Pérez (62), Randy Cabrera (37), Deisy Salmorrera (55), Jesús Lugo Gallo (43) and José Sequera (61).
Autopsy and research on progress
Until now, no specific details have been disclosed on the exact causes of death. Autopsy results are expected to clarify the precise circumstances.
The Corps of Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigations (CICPC) sent specialized officials from Mérida to investigate the incident and collect evidence about what happened.
Competition details
The competition, which is carried out annually in the National Parks Sierra La Cuatata and Sierra Nevada, has routes of 19 and 38 kilometers designed to challenge runners in one of the most beautiful but also more dangerous environments in the country.
Luis Gerardo Sánchez was recognized for his experience in similar activities; His relatives highlighted his career on hiking and mountain races. “He had experience on mountain walks,” said his relatives.
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