Andres Castro: Wife’s birthday turns tragic after Oregon father suffers heart attack mid-flight
A man has died after suffering a heart attack mid-flight while his wife watched in horror.
Andres Castro, 39, was returning home to Oregon with his wife Suanny on Tuesday after they celebrated her birthday in Bolivia with her family.
A GoFundMe, set up by Mr Castro’s sister Teo Ramirez, said that after he suddenly stopped breathing the plane made an emergency landing in Colombia.
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The fundraiser was set up to cover the cost of transporting Mr Castro’s body back home where his son AJ, and his siblings and parents wish to hold his funeral.
Ms Ramirez said the family was trying to work with funeral services in Colombia to arrange the return of Mr Castro’s body to Oregon.
The estimated cost is more than $38,000.
Yesterday Ms Ramirez updated the GoFundMe page to say the family was working with Senator Ron Wyden’s office in the process of bringing Mr Castro home.
“We are hopeful their assistance will help move things forward. In the meantime, we have started looking at funeral services in Portland and Gresham, and we will keep you all updated as soon as arrangements are finalised,” she wrote.
“We want to thank everyone for your incredible support, kind words, and prayers as we continue to process this unimaginable loss. Your compassion means so much to our family.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again for walking alongside us in this difficult journey.”
Tributes are flowing for Mr Castro and his family on social media.
“My heart is so heavy hearing this news. Gone way too soon,” one Facebook user wrote.
“Praying he will be brought back to the US without any problems and that everything needed would be provided in this time,” another wrote.
“I’m so sorry for (this) family’s loss, my heart goes out to you and your family during this incredibly difficult time. May you find strength in each other and the love that surrounds you,” another commented.
Ms Ramirez is yet to provide an update on the family’s work with Senator Ron Wyden’s office to bring Mr Castro home.
