A German tourist has died in the Peruvian Andean region of Áncash. “The tourist was found lifeless, presumably as a result of a lightning strike caused by heavy rainfall,” the tourist police said.
The 29-year-old had set off on Saturday by bicycle from Huaraz, a city in the northern Andes of Peru, about 400 kilometers northeast of the capital Lima.
He had wanted to ride to Laguna de Conococha, a highland lake between Lima and Huaraz. After the man had been missing for more than a day, police and rescue workers searched for him.
According to local media reports, the German had taken refuge in a tent during a sudden storm and was apparently struck by lightning. The public prosecutor's office is investigating the exact circumstances of his death.
[…]
by zergcheese
8 Comments
This case should serve as a reminder for all of us: thunderstorms are no joke, especially in the mountains.
Florian started his journey in 2024 to raise awareness about climate change. Take your time and take a look at his blog: https://blue-miracle.de/
That’s sad.
That’s sad, I was expecting it to happen while he was still riding in the storm but he was waiting it out in his tent! Is there anything else he could have done in this situation?
That sucks… But thunderstorms, yeah, you just don’t mess with those. Especially in the mountains.
I’m an experienced mountaineer, did 100s of mountain hikes. I don’t ever stick around when there’s thunder. I once had to shelter under a big rock for a full day because it was that bad. You also can’t predict the weather in the mountains. You could be hiking and sweating, beautiful clear sky, then 10 minutes later it’s pouring rain, temperature dropped 5 degrees and you’re cold. It can change in a matter of minutes. You hear thunder, you find adequate shelter. A tent isn’t one. Maybe he didn’t know that, or he didn’t have a choice… RIP
R.I.P. Hope you find fair winds and following seas.
That’s really sad.
The afternoon thunderstorms in Peru can be no joke.
It generally pays to get any high passes climbed and over them by mid afternoon to give you a chance to get lower before any thunderstorms build.
I had a very scary night in a tent riding the Peru Divide.
I got caught in a thunderstorm in a sunny day here in SoCal . Scariest experience on the bike. I was lucky to have it but never again. I always check the weather. Lightning was crackling above me and striking at less distance than was comfortable . Thank god for carbon fiber 🤣
I live in a part of the world where lightning is so rare as to be basically nonexistent. This is my biggest fear whenever I travel to other places to bikepack or tour. It’s so dangerous and so many people are glib about it.
Not that I think that’s what happened here per se. So sad. Sympathies to his family and friends.