After months of uncertainty over the fate of daredevil Portuguese mountain climber João Marinho, a man’s body has been found in a steep ravine in Picos de Europa.
The grim discovery was made this (Saturday) morning by a group of climbers.
According to reports, it looks very much like the “adventure sports addict” had fallen into the ravine.
Personal documents found on the body indicate that it is that of 31-year-old Marinho – missing for almost eight months after setting out alone on a trail through the mountains – but to be certain, the corpse has been airlifted to Oviedo where it will be autopsied.
Known for his passion for radical sports, the electrical engineer/ entrepreneur from Amarante had told Correio da Manhã newspaper before the climb that Picos da Europa was “a complicated mountain” and “one that should only be explored by experienced mountain climbers”.
After he went missing, family and friends mounted their own searches in tandem with those made by Spanish police – but despite repeated search-parties over many weeks, nothing was found until worsening weather conditions made further attempts impossible.
At first Marinho’s Facebook page was left open for messages of hope and support to flood in. Now it is simply a memorial to a young man who wrote in his last message that: “Nothing is as important as passion.
“No matter what you do with your life, be passionate”.
