Fatal hiking: Delray Beach man dies in Brazil while on holiday with friends
A South Florida man’s body was found on Wednesday, putting an end to a five-day search and rescue mission in Brazil.
Raul Jimenez was on vacation in Brasilia with two friends from Delray Beach. They went hiking in the National Park of Chapada dos Veadeiros on Saturday.
His sister said there was a flash flood while the group was hiking, and the water carried them away.
Both of Jimenez’s friends made it out alive. One person hung on to a rock for about six hours until help came. Jimenez went missing, so his parents and sister flew to Brazil to help look for him.
“His bag started floating away with the water, and he said, ‘No, I want to get my bag,’ so he said, ‘I want to go and get my bag,’ and when he tried to get his bag, the water came rushing down and killed him,” Raul’s sister, Gabriela Jimenez, said with tears in her eyes.
Friends of Raul said that his body was found about a mile from the Raizama Waterfall on Wednesday afternoon.
“My brother is a very happy person. One who is happy. Jimenez said, “He is a musician, an artist, and he loves adventure, but he is not the kind of person who would put his life in danger.”
The U.S. State Department said that they are ready to help the family in any way that is needed.
