Israeli tourist dies in Peru after suffering altitude sickness

Friends of Shira Roth, 21, are unable to wake her after she falls asleep on bus while headed to see doctor

By ToI Staff 1 April 2016, 10:35 pm

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Shira Roth of Jerusalem, who died in Peru after suffering altitude sickness (Facebook)

A 21-year-old Israeli died on Thursday in Peru, apparently as a result of altitude sickness after taking part in a trek to a mountain almost 5 kilometers high.

Shira Roth of Jerusalem was traveling in Peru with a friend and the friend’s mother. She reportedly felt ill during the three days of the trek in the Huaraz region, but continued despite this.

Eventually the three decided to return to Lima so that Shira could see a doctor. She fell asleep on the bus, but never woke up again. Her friends tried to revive her, but she had already died.

Her father said he had been told she had apparently died due to a lack of oxygen.

Roth was the second Israeli tourist who died in Peru in March.

Earlier in the month an Israeli tourist was killed while on an extreme adventure ride in Cusco.

The man, identified as Orel Guetta, 24, of Kfar Saba, apparently fell to his death after a cable came loose on the “Tarzan” pendulum attraction, which swings riders along a canyon from a harness 100 meters in the air. Medics were unable to save Guetta, who suffered severe injuries in the accident.