Hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye and celebrate the life of the Salvadoran surfer, who died after being struck by lightning during training last week.
To the queen of La Bocana, Katherine Diaz, She was fired by hundreds of surfers, friends, family members who came to La Libertad beach, next to the famous El Tunco beach, where she surfs almost daily. There, where tragedy struck her in the form of lightning, there, very close to where she was born. They fired her there at sea.
In an act full of emotion, but also joy mixed with sadness, those present brought pictures, flowers and letters to show the love they had for this girl.
“Bamba” Díaz, about Katherine: “Legends never die. She will never die “
She was pre-selected and dreamed of becoming a surf champion, like many in La Libertad. But his legacy crossed sporting boundaries and reached the foundational fibers of humanity through his way of being. It was she, along with other friends who gathered not long ago to gather food, clothing, and food for the neediest, those who suffered the most during the storms that left pain and mourning. hundreds of families last year.
Katherine Díaz’s family accompanied her to El Tunco Beach to pay tribute to life. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes
Since she was little her passion has been the sea, and as her sister Erica said, she herself had said that when she died, here, on the beach, in La Bocana, where she ruled, she wanted to be fired. There he wanted his ashes scattered. The letters they received were burned and a large group of surfers took to the sea to distribute them, along with many white flowers. It was his wish, the last.
Her brother “El Bamba” Díaz summed up the feelings of those present: “she was always my motivation … she is a legend, and, as the saying goes, legends never die”.
Then, in a farewell involving the religious part, the ephemeral nature of life was recalled and the importance of being able to breathe, getting up every day. Katherine couldn’t live with the lightning that hit her.
National surfers came to El Tunco Beach to pay tribute to the life of Katherine Díaz. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes
“A ray of light took her, took another light,” said her sister. Katherine’s tragic death also reminds us how fragile life is and how everything can change in the blink of an eye.
“Goodbye, Katherine,” someone in the crowd called. While from the water, from hundreds of yards, the shouting could be heard in his name, in his honor, in his legacy, for the man he was.
National surfers came to El Tunco Beach to pay tribute to the life of Katherine Díaz. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes
“I am surprised to see so many people who came to join us, to see that so many people loved her, knew her. I am sad, but at the same time happy to see all this ”, said Érica. Goodbye Katy, your legend will live on.
“She was super happy to be part of this upcoming World Cup,” said her brother, José Díaz. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes