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Minnesota Father, 36, Killed by Lightning While Mountain Biking in Peru Highlands

01:16 AM, 12/02/2025
Minnesota Father, 36, Killed by Lightning While Mountain Biking in Peru Highlands

Yuri Botelho, 36, was fatally struck by lightning while mountain biking with a friend and a tour guide in the Cusco highlands of Peru on Nov. 26. The group was near 14,000 feet when a sudden storm struck; the friend remains hospitalized in critical condition and the guide was unharmed. Botelho, a recent U.S. citizen originally from Brazil, was traveling with his wife and their 15-month-old son. The family is arranging cremation in Lima and working to return his remains to Minnesota while raising funds to cover expenses.

Yuri Botelho, 36, a recent U.S. citizen originally from Brazil, died after being struck by lightning while mountain biking with a friend and a tour guide in Peru's Cusco highlands on Nov. 26. The group was riding near the Occoruro–Yaurisque area, close to the Paruro–Cusco provincial border, at roughly 14,000 feet above sea level when a sudden storm moved through the area.

Local responders reached the scene later that afternoon and found Botelho deceased. His riding companion, identified as 41-year-old James Alexander Fernandez, was injured and transported to a regional hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Their 35-year-old Peruvian tour guide, Dani Peralta, was not seriously injured.

Botelho had been traveling with his wife, Kelsey, and their 15-month-old son, Tyson, on what the family described as an annual getaway. Following the incident, Kelsey was able to transport her husband's remains to Cuzco while family members work to repatriate him to Minnesota.

Yuri's father, Francisco Botelho, a former councilman in São Mateus, Brazil, confirmed that his son's body will be cremated in Lima before the remains are returned to Minnesota. Family and friends have launched a fundraising campaign to cover repatriation and medical expenses for the injured companion.

"We'll make sure we do our part in making sure Tyson knows how much he was loved," a family member said.

The city where Yuri worked issued a brief statement expressing condolences and noting that he had quickly become a trusted and valued colleague during his time there. Loved ones describe Yuri as an adventurous family man whose sudden death has left a deep void for his wife, young son and extended family.

If you wish to support the family, a fundraising page has been set up to assist with funeral and repatriation costs.

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