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SCHOOL TRIP DEATH

Tragedy as boy, 16, collapsed and died on a 560-mile cycle ride from Swansea to Spain with his classmates

The group were on a "cycling pilgrimage" to the religious city of Santiago de Compostela

A SCHOOLTRIP has ended in tragedy as a student died on a 560-mile cycle ride from Britain to Spain with classmates.

Michael Cura, 16, collapsed and died after setting off on the trip with 20 pupils and eight staff.

 A schoolboy has died on a 560-mile cycle ride from Britain to Spain with his classmates
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A schoolboy has died on a 560-mile cycle ride from Britain to Spain with his classmatesCredit: Wales News Service

The trip started in Swansea and was due to finish at the city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The group was nine days into the cycling trip and near to the end when the sixth form student collapsed.

They were cycling along a religious route which has been used for pilgrims for more than 1,000 years.

The school said it was "devastated by the sudden death" and his parents have flown out to Spain to get more information.

Heartbroken school friends of Michael are due to return home without finishing their cycle pilgrimage.

A spokeswoman for Swansea Council said: "The parents of the student are being supported to travel out to Spain.

"Following discussions with the pupils, staff, and parents the school has arranged for the remaining pupils and staff to return home tomorrow."

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School sources said his death yesterday morning was not from an accident and no other pupils were involved.

Michael, who is from a Filipino family living in Morriston, Swansea, was an altar boy at the Sacred Heart Church in Swansea.

He is was on the Camino de Santiago - also known by the English names Way of St James and St James's Path - on the pilgrim route to the Catholic shrine.

His family are devoted Roman Catholics and two of his brothers are also altar boys.

Parish priest Father Jason Jones said: "The parish community of the Sacred Heart at Morriston are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden death of Michael.

"The family and friends of Michael attended a special mass this morning before jetting off from Heathrow.

 Santiago de Compostela - the endpoint of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago that crosses northern Spain
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Santiago de Compostela - the endpoint of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago that crosses northern SpainCredit: AP:Associated Press

"He was a fun loving, caring and committed altar boy and a helper for the disabled youth.

"A caring, greatly loved and popular young man who will be very missed."

"It is a very emotional time for the family and for the whole community."

Michael was among the 29 cyclists left Swansea on July 12 on the 560-mile journey to raise money for charity.

In a letter to parents the school said pupils and staff would be averaging between fifty and sixty miles a day.


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