It's the world's most famous pilgrim route - but are you ever too old to walk it?
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Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Perth Now
Couple's tragic final moments before flood took their lives
What began as a dream hiking trip through one of Majorca's most spectacular gorges ended in tragedy after two British travellers were swept to their deaths by a sudden wall of water. Alexander Barrett, 32, and his partner Sarah Thompson, 26, had joined friends for a challenging but popular descent through the Torrent de Pareis canyon in the Tramuntana mountains on the 3rd of September last year. Both were experienced outdoor lovers; Mr Barrett was a climbing instructor and lifeguard, and Ms Thompson was a skilled trail runner. The couple started their hike on a warm and calm day, however, it turned deadly when the storm clouds gathered above. An inquest in Stockport has now heard how the couple were caught in flash flooding that funnelled down the narrow gorge with terrifying speed and force. Fellow hiker Luke Weaver, a friend and climbing partner of Mr Barrett, described how conditions changed in an instant. 'At this point the heavens opened,' he said. 'At this time the water was flowing like a small river.' Mr Weaver had dropped off the group earlier that morning and was attempting to catch up after being delayed in traffic. By the time he entered the canyon, rain had begun to fall. Still, the forecast had predicted storms only later in the evening, and no one in the group expected danger. Flash flood kills British hikers. Credit: awesomewalls_stockport / Instagram The Mirror reported that just after 2.30pm, thunder echoed through the mountains. Mr Weaver spotted the group who were now joined by two Spanish nationals and a German couple, in a bottleneck between two boulders. Mr Weaver recounted that he checked on Ms Thompson to see if she was okay, and she nervously smiled and said she was fine. It was only seconds later that one of the hikers shouted a warning, 'water!' 'A massive wall of water came down the gorge,' Mr Weaver said. 'The water appeared to come from nowhere. The sound was incredibly loud. People were screaming.' Mr Weaver said that he recalled seeing one hiker clinging to a rock and another being swept away by the torrent. Ms Thompson and Mr Barrett were both seen being carried by the strong current. 'I was shouting and screaming for the others. I could see no one,' Mr Weaver told the court. 'Everyone who survived that day is incredibly lucky, especially those who got caught in the water. I have never experienced anything like this and it is something I will never forget.' Ms Thompson's body was found the following day. Mr Barrett's was recovered three days later in the same canyon. Post-mortem examinations confirmed that both died by drowning. Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill concluded that the storm had caused flash flooding in the gorge, dragging Ms Thompson away as Mr Barrett tried to help her. She recorded verdicts of accidental death for both. A British couple were caught in a deadly storm in Majorca's mountains. Credit: awesomewalls_stockport Ms Thompson was described by her father, Peter Thompson, as someone 'never without a smile'. Mr Barrett's father, Paul Rodman, said his son 'loved life' and lived it with kindness and courage. 'The friends and family have developed a little saying: 'Be more like Alex.' He's missed so much by all his friends and family.' The survivors were airlifted from the canyon with minor injuries. A suppression order remains in place over some details of the case.
Canberra Times
6 days ago
- Canberra Times
It's the world's most famous pilgrim route - but are you ever too old to walk it?
To the metronome of our footsteps, my fellow travellers and I toggle between grunt and glory, discussing the mundane (blisters and aches) then sharing intimate reflections about our lives. There's a refreshing lack of small talk. When we stop at one of the many Camino bars, I notice a Canadian who has passed his pilgrim staff to a German asking her what is singing in her heart at that moment. Okay, maybe this is veering a little too close to schmaltz, but everyone is genuinely more openhearted, precisely because they've committed to this journey, which feels like a collaborative endeavour. Indeed, it seems that even if people are walking solo (as many are), there's no sense that they're walking alone since there are so many opportunities to connect with others.
The Age
29-07-2025
- The Age
‘The wickedest city on Earth' and other new must-visit World Heritage sites
The new list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites generally arrives in July, as the UN's cultural arm gives its official rubber-stamp to locations 'around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity'. As of this year, this amounts to 1248 significant places in 170 countries – ranging from palaces in France to coral harbours in Micronesia. The newest announcement, made last week, has added a further 26 'inscribed properties' to this gleaming portfolio – some of them in relatively remote corners of the planet such as Tajikistan and Malawi, others closer to hand in Italy, Greece and Germany. The following fresh inductees are all worth a visit (which can't be said for some of the others): The Palaces of Ludwig II, Germany The preposterous idea that German architecture is dour and lifeless is rebutted with the firmest flourish by the castles that were strewn across the hillsides and high places of Bavaria by its monarch, Ludwig II, between 1864 and 1886. A man of flamboyant tastes, Ludwig commissioned three separate country properties – Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee – during his 22-year reign, envisaging each of them as a refuge from the apparent mundanity of court life in Munich. All three of them (plus a villa on Schachen hill, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen) are part of the new UNESCO listing – although it is Neuschwanstein, with its dreaming spires, which has become the region's postcard icon. UNESCO says: Drawing inspiration from Versailles, German fairy tales and Wagner's operas, the palaces showcase historicist styles and advanced 19th century techniques. Carefully integrated into stunning landscapes, they embody Ludwig's artistic vision.
