Arnau Brossa Gonzalo, a 30-year-old early career researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela, recently died after injuries sustained in a climbing accident at The Other Climb gym in Santiago de Compostela. He passed away this Sunday after efforts to recover from injuries incurred from a fall from a height of eight meters during a climbing session.
The news was confirmed by the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics (IGFAE), the research group to which he belonged. In a statement issued on their website and social media channels, the institute expressed sorrow for the loss of a postdoctoral researcher who contributed to the LHCb experiment. The communication noted that Arnau died in Santiago de Compostela on Sunday, July 21, 2024, as a consequence of complications related to the climbing accident.
Arnau earned a degree in Physics from the University of Barcelona in 2016, specializing in theoretical physics. He then completed a Master in Astrophysics, Particle Physics, and Cosmology at the same university, with a master’s project focused on the LHCb experiment. His doctoral studies, conducted between 2017 and 2022 at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, were in Particle Physics under the supervision of Professor Tim Gershon and Dr. Thomas Latham. His work there earned the Springer Thesis Prize for outstanding research.
After earning his doctorate, Arnau joined the LHCb group at IGFAE in 2022, initially as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a Juan de la Cierva investigator. He became part of the IGFAE Lepton Flavor Universality group, taking on a leadership role and contributing to the institute’s efforts in high energy physics.
In the wake of his death, IGFAE expressed its deep sorrow and extended condolences to his mother, his brother, and his aunt and uncle. The institute highlighted the many friendships Arnau cultivated within the institute and the LHCb collaboration, noting that he was valued for his warmth, kindness, dedication, intelligence, and ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues.
Suspected safety measures under review
With Arnau’s death, the investigation into how the incident occurred has taken on heightened significance for the Judicial Police of Santiago de Compostela. On the day of the accident, June 17, investigators conducted an on-site inspection and collected evidence to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Initial inquiries did not exclude any possibility about the causes leading to the eight-meter fall, and early hypotheses suggested a potential fault in the safety rope as one line of inquiry.
The ongoing inquiry underscores the importance of rigorous safety protocols in climbing facilities and research environments alike. It also highlights how incidents in recreational venues can intersect with professional lives, reminding communities to continually review safety practices and equipment standards to prevent similar tragedies.
Arnau’s colleagues describe a researcher who balanced intense scientific curiosity with a generous, collaborative spirit. His contributions to particle physics and his leadership within the Lepton Flavor Universality initiative at IGFAE are remembered as hallmarks of a promising career cut short. Those who knew him speak of a person who approached complex problems with patience, humor, and a steady commitment to mentoring others, leaving a lasting impression on the colleagues and students who crossed his path.
As the community reflects on this loss, many hope Arnau’s work will continue to inspire future generations of physicists. The research teams at IGFAE and the broader LHCb collaboration continue their mission, carrying forward the ideas and discoveries he helped advance while honoring his memory with a shared commitment to safety, excellence, and curiosity.