Tui - Redondela Stage: Careful when walking across the river!

[natefaith]

http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...ana-colegio-as-solanas/0003_201505V8C9993.htm

@jirit brought this article to our attention via email. The Guardia Civil officer happened to be at the right place at the right time! The recent rains made the river swell in Ribadelouro, and a pilgrim trying to cross the river slipped off the log bridge and fell face down into the water. She wasn't able to move because of the weight of her backpack and her clothes, but there happened to already be a Guardia Civil officer right there. He jumped into the river and saved her. This all happened this past Tuesday - hopefully by now the river has gone down a bit, but still - please be careful and take care.

Buen Camino,
Faith

 

[amorfati1]

http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...ana-colegio-as-solanas/0003_201505V8C9993.htm

@jirit brought this article to our attention via email. The Guardia Civil officer happened to be at the right place at the right time! The recent rains made the river swell in Ribadelouro, and a pilgrim trying to cross the river slipped off the log bridge and fell face down into the water. She wasn't able to move because of the weight of her backpack and her clothes, but there happened to already be a Guardia Civil officer right there. He jumped into the river and saved her. This all happened this past Tuesday - hopefully by now the river has gone down a bit, but still - please be careful and take care.

Buen Camino,
Faith

curious -- and bravo to the chap who jumped into the water to save her. in the article it states that she traveled in the company with her husband
"...54 años de nacionalidad canadiense que hacía el Camino de Santiago en compañía de su marido...."
wondering what he did? watching her drown?
"donde su marido asistía impotente al rescate." ...powerless to assist....- (if someone finds out about that part of the story, i'd be interested to hear about it.)
she had some very attentive guardian angels , to be sure.... glad it had a good outcome thus far. must have given quite a fright....

i remember walking along that river after some rains - very muddy - and easy to slip w/ muddy shoes. -
proceed with caution and common sense, even after the rains might be over. the soil is still soaked.
best wishes ~

 

[Ekelund]

The poor woman, how terrible to be in the water wearing a heavy backpack. I hope she is well and was able to continue her camino. And thank God for the Civil Guardia officier being there at that time! He is a hero!

 

[natefaith]

The poor woman, how terrible to be in the water wearing a heavy backpack. I hope she is well and was able to continue her camino. And thank God for the Civil Guardia officier being there at that time! He is a hero!

Seriously! Brave guy!

 

[natefaith]

curious -- and bravo to the chap who jumped into the water to save her. in the article it states that she traveled in the company with her husband
"...54 años de nacionalidad canadiense que hacía el Camino de Santiago en compañía de su marido...."
wondering what he did? watching her drown?
"donde su marido asistía impotente al rescate." ...powerless to assist....- (if someone finds out about that part of the story, i'd be interested to hear about it.)
she had some very attentive guardian angels , to be sure.... glad it had a good outcome thus far. must have given quite a fright....

i remember walking along that river after some rains - very muddy - and easy to slip w/ muddy shoes. -
proceed with caution and common sense, even after the rains might be over. the soil is still soaked.
best wishes ~

I think you're right, amorfati1 - sounds like he wasn't able to help very well (but not for lack of trying). What a scare for all involved- so glad she's all right and could continue on.
Take care,
Faith

 

[La Barre]

Please remember, before crossing a water source such as this , on a log or planks, to unbuckle your hip belt. It will make it easier to slip out of the backpack if you fall.

 

[Icacos]

Please remember, before crossing a water source such as this , on a log or planks, to unbuckle your hip belt. It will make it easier to slip out of the backpack if you fall.

Unbuckle your chest strap too!

 

[La Barre]

Quite true . Thank you for adding that.

 

[Castilian]

in the article it states that she traveled in the company with her husband
"...54 años de nacionalidad canadiense que hacía el Camino de Santiago en compañía de su marido...."
wondering what he did? watching her drown?
"donde su marido asistía impotente al rescate." ...powerless to assist....- (if someone finds out about that part of the story, i'd be interested to hear about it.)

The info on this link (in Galician):

http://www.crtvg.es/informativos/un...a-canadense-que-caera-a-un-rio-en-tui-1140409

says her husband was slow to react and the Civil Guard that saved her says on the video available on the same link that her husband didn't jump into the river (for her) probably because he was more far away, more (a word in Galician that I don't understand) and had more problems.

 

[Albertagirl]

I have found, in my experience in challenging river crossings in the Canadian Rockies, that unbuckling my waist belt puts me off balance and far more likely to end up rolling downstream. A long wooden walking stick stuck in the riverbed upstream of you provides much better balance, but I have had a metal collapsible pole get water inside and collapse. If you don't like the look of the river, it is definitely safest to cross elsewhere. A day's walk upstream is better than a ducking and possible drowning. I came too close once and no longer take chances. Do take care.

 

[amorfati1]

The info on this link (in Galician):

http://www.crtvg.es/informativos/un...a-canadense-que-caera-a-un-rio-en-tui-1140409

says her husband was slow to react and the Civil Guard that saved her says on the video available on the same link that her husband didn't jump into the river (for her) probably because he was more far away, more (a word in Galician that I don't understand) and had more problems.

good grief ... thanks for posting this.
e' vero, that spot is memorable indeed. about 51 weeks ago i traippsed around there as well - but very luckily on that day, there were three of us. an US woman and one belgian woman. was very grateful for this - not only because they were nice company, but we looked out for each other while we navigated the banks, the crossing and walking through the mud alongside. not because it was a raging river, but the mud all around made the walking slippery - and some was a bit steep downward --- but no harm done, no one fell/tripped.
really a blessed event that the guarda civil chap was at hand and he was spot-on presto in his actions.
from what i understood was that the husband was a bit farther /lungo away. perhaps already downstream and didn't see a darn thing.
thanks again for posting the video ...
and sending good thought and prayers for a safe peregrinaggio continuation for all pilgrims far and wide!

 

[Angelo]

Thanks for the link.
When I passed this area last week I didn't notice anything unusual although it was one of the muddy stretches for the day.
Thank goodness for the rescue.