A Brazilian tourist was killed when an ice sheet from a cave on the outskirts of the city of Ushuaia in Argentina struck. According to the Argentine newspaper Clarín, the victim’s identity is Dennis Marín Cosmos. The accident occurred yesterday afternoon when visitors entered a formation called Jimbo Cave, which is located in glacial areas and whose access is restricted due to the frequent separation of stones and ice chips.
Since 2021, the City has warned visitors and residents to ban entering the cave, based on scientific studies showing that the site is at risk of collapse.
Rescuers from the Charity Commission Ushuaia Rescue efforts were reported to have started at around 16:00 yesterday. According to the agents, the victim suffered a head injury and was in a “very sensitive” condition.
The tragedy was recorded by one of the tourists in a video played by local media, where the group entered the cave and the moment the sign fell on the visitor leading the expedition.
In the images, it is possible to see a sign with a warning not to enter a few meters before the entrance of the cave. A man recording the event says, “The tunnel is actually huge, folks. Look at the falling stone, look over there. Be careful.” Seconds later, the ice sheet falls and crashes into one of the tourists. “Oh my God, don’t go. Everybody come back!” shouts the cameraman.
The tourist was found around 7:30 pm when he was no longer vital.
Rescuers confirmed death and spent about 10 hours recovering the body.
The case was referred to a court in Ushuaia, where Judge Javier De Gamas Soler ordered the autopsy of the victim, state news agency Télam reported.
The victim’s data was not disclosed, but local media cited forensic sources indicated that the victim would be a man of Brazilian nationality.
There were no documents among his belongings and his identity was only verified at the police station. According to the Argentine government, he was about 30 years old and was traveling the country alone in a trailer located in the Rio Pipo municipal camp southwest of the Ushuaia Department.
Jimbo Cave is located 3,100 kilometers south of the Argentine capital, in an area of outstanding natural beauty within the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
*with information from AFP
source: Noticias
