The Mountain Civil Guard presents a clear account of what happened to Javier Amigo Coto from Gijón. He died during the early stages of a hike from Poncebos to Bulnes, triggered by a sudden misstep on a steep and sparsely traveled slope that leads down to the sea and the river below. Lieutenant Pablo Villabrille, head of the Mountain Region of the Civil Guard in Cangas de Onís, stated that all signs point to a fatal incident occurring on the same Sunday of the walk.
On the previous Sunday, the 60-year-old Amigo said farewell to his wife near the exit at Poncebos, planning to reunite with the mountain group in Bulnes later that day. He belonged to the Xove mountain group, which traverses the route between Fuente Dé and Bulnes, typically spending nights at the Urriellu sanctuary. Amigo’s wife, Elvira Fernández, noted that he traveled the same route on prior occasions and that his sister-in-law accompanied him on this trip. The wife mentioned that others from the group chose the funicular due to the women’s preference for a more comfortable option.
Amigo had packed only a single water canister for what was planned as a short, hour-long walk. There were no extra clothes, no food, and no extra supplies for a longer climb under sun exposure. The plan had been to reach Bulnes for a meal with the mountain group, then return to Poncebos for supper. When the anticipated dining time in Poncebos came and went without his presence, concern began to grow, as Elvira Fernández explained. She added that her husband had already completed this route several times before.
Amigo separated from his wife and sister-in-law near the end of the asphalt section. The intended path included about 300 meters of travel, a left turn, crossing the Jaya bridge, and heading into the Texu canal, a three-kilometer stretch that should have brought him to Bulnes in roughly an hour under normal conditions. His wife recalled the original plan with some sadness, describing a routine that should have ended with shared meals and camaraderie during the hike.
According to Lieutenant Villabrille, the sequence of events became hazy almost immediately. The plan to bend left after 300 meters did not occur. Instead, Amigo continued straight along the old Ruta del Cares route, a less frequent choice than Texu, as confirmed by the Cangas de Onís Civil Guard. The initial portion of this alternative route is wide enough to accommodate a helicopter, but the terrain soon narrows into a difficult, technical section.
The climber from Gijón faced a brutal, steep channel that demanded the use of all four limbs. It is a challenging ascent toward a plateau that houses several collapsed cabins, a remnant of a past industry era. In this area, there is no obvious exit, yet from that point a person might struggle to reach the Ruta del Cares with great difficulty. Amigo slipped during the ascent, falling approximately a hundred meters down a steep slope. The fall was not a pure free fall, but a slide that halted about five meters from the Cares River, according to Villabrille. The body was located five days later by firefighters from the Asturias Emergency Service, SEPA. The Texu canal, a dead-end route with little practical naming, is the closest distinguished point, with Estorez canal being the most proximate recognized reference. The tragedy unfolded in a landscape that is revered for its beauty but demands careful preparation and respect for the terrain. [Attribution: Civil Guard and SEPA reports]
In the wake of the tragedy, Elvira Fernández expressed a deep sense of gratitude. Speaking on Saturday, she conveyed quiet strength while thanking everyone who offered support. She highlighted the people of Poncebos for their ongoing assistance and affection, the mountain rangers, and GREIM rescue teams for their cooperation, and the Civil Guard for their care and professionalism. Her words reflected the heavy emotional toll of the loss and the relief she felt from a community that stood by her through the ordeal. She added that there are no words to fully express her gratitude to the responders and to those who shared in the difficult moments of search and rescue. [Attribution: local authorities and emergency services]