Final farewell to Chilean cyclist

Final farewell to Chilean cyclist

KHON KAEN — The body of a Chilean around-the-world cyclist killed last month by a pickup truck has arrived at a temple in this northeastern province for a religious ceremony.

Police, rescuers and tourism officials on Friday moved the body of Juan Francisco Guillermo from Bua Yai Hospital in Bua Yai district of Nakhon Ratchasima to Dhamma Utthayan Forest Monastery in Muang district in Khon Kaen.

A rescuer shows a picture of Chilean cyclist Juan Francisco Guillermo that is being displayed at the funeral rites being held at Dhamma Utthayan Forest Monastery in Muang district in Khon Kaen. (Photo by Jakkrapan Nathanri)

Guillermo's Singaporean wife, Ng Poh Leng, and their son Lucas, 2, travelled from the hospital to the temple, which was a place the cyclist had admired. He had expressed a wish that if anything happened to him, a ceremony should be held there.

Some family members of the Chilean travelled from Chile to join the ceremony.

Deputy Khon Kaen governor Prasert Luechathananond said the cremation rites would be held on Saturday.

Guillermo and his family had stayed about a week at the temple before continuing their journey to Nakhon Ratchasima as he attempted to set a world record on his self-sponsored trip by pedalling 250,000 kilometres around the globe in five years.

Their journey began in November 2010 and had covered 140,000 kilomotres until the crash.

A vehicle driven by Tiwarat Ratchaipidet hit Guillermo's bicycle on Mittraphap Road in Bua Lai district on Feb 22. The Chilean was killed instantly and his wife is injured.

Pol Col Pornchai Saengsila, deputy chief of Khon Kaen Highway police, said his wife was being treatd at Srinagarind Hospital at Khon Kaen University before returning to Chile.

The driver was charged with careless driving resulting in death and injury.

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