A social media star and extreme sports lover fell to his death as he attempted to cycle down a volcano.
David Ernesto Villarreal Pérez and his friend ascended Pico de Orizaba on Wednesday (12 Feb).
It rises 5,636 m (18,491 ft) above sea level and is the highest volcano and third highest peak in North America.
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After reaching the summit, they began descending the Mexican volcano by bicycle.
As they descended in an area known as El Sarcófago (The Coffin), the rugged terrain caused Villarreal, 27, to lose control of his bike.
He fell, hit his head, and lost consciousness at an altitude of more than 5,100 m (16,732 ft) above sea level.
His friend, Brandon Arturo Pérez Guerrero, alerted the emergency services at around midday.
Search and rescue workers finally reached the pair at 7:30 pm.
A Puebla state government spokesperson said: “The area of the accident is hard to reach, with rough terrain.
“And combined with the challenging weather conditions at that altitude, it made helicopter use impossible, forcing the ascent and descent to be done on foot.”
When the rescue team reached Villarreal, he still had vital signs, despite being unconscious.
He was put on a stretcher and the descent began, but by 8 pm, he no longer showed signs of life.
Preliminary reports say he died from severe blood loss and multiple fractures.
Pérez, 28, was able to descend on foot.
Villarreal was from Monterrey and boasted more than half a million followers and subscribers on social media.
He made the news in 2020 after spending a month living on Pico de Orizaba, as reported by Need To Know.
His girlfriend, Arantza Cavazos, wrote: “You were an incredible man, David.
“I hope to meet you again in another life and have all the adventures we planned together.”
Villarreal is also survived by his parents and siblings.
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