Rodolfo Morales Quinchia, a 20-year-old athlete from the rural vereda Los Molinos in San Rafael, died during the El Paso del Arriero trail running competition in Alejandría, Antioquia, after entering a water tributary near the Velo de la Novia waterfall and failing to surface, according to reports published by El Colombiano.
Tragedy Strikes During El Paso del Arriero in Antioquia
The athletic competition took place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, across the mountainous terrain of Alejandría in the eastern subregion of Antioquia, Colombia. The event, named El Paso del Arriero, challenges participants with natural trails, mud, rocks, and streams designed to mirror the historic routes traversed by mule drivers centuries ago.
The sudden disappearance prompted immediate alerts from fellow competitors and race organizers, who contacted local emergency response units.
Neighboring Municipalities Support Subaquatic Search
Due to the high complexity of the aquatic environment and the remote nature of the terrain, emergency personnel requested specialized assistance. Fire units from neighboring municipalities—including El Peñol, Marinilla, and El Carmen de Viboral—arrived to support the subaquatic search.
The remains were subsequently transferred to authorities for formal identification and investigative procedures.
Organizers Pledge Cooperation with Judicial Inquiry
The organizing committee of El Paso del Arriero released an official statement on Monday, September 28, 2026, confirming the death of the competitor and expressing condolences to his family and friends. The organization emphasized that determining the exact cause of death and potential legal responsibilities rests entirely with judicial authorities, pledging complete cooperation with the ongoing inquiry.
According to MiOriente, the organizers defended the safety protocols enforced during the event, stating that the competition required adherence to a strict regulatory framework encompassing participation criteria, acknowledgement of inherent mountain running risks, sportsmanship guidelines, and basic first aid provisions. While safety protocols were mandated, the incident has sparked wider discussions within the running community regarding course design and the proximity of natural water hazards during competitive mountain races.
Questions Regarding Mountain Running Safety
The competition offered distances ranging from 2 kilometers to 15 kilometers, with participants aged 17 to 70 permitted to enter the longer endurance divisions under a voluntary risk acknowledgment framework.
Authorities continue to examine the precise sequence of events leading up to the drowning, while local community members and sports clubs mourn the loss of the young athlete, who had previously expressed a deep passion for outdoor endurance events.
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