Hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye and celebrate the life of the Salvadoran surfer, who died after being struck by lightning during a training session last week.
To the Queen of the Mouth, Katherine Diaz, She was fired by hundreds of surfers, friends, family who came to La Llibertat beach, next to the famous Tunco, where she surfed almost daily. Here, where tragedy struck him in the form of lightning, here, very close to where he was born. Here she was fired, at sea.
In an act full of emotion, but also of joy mixed with sadness, those present brought photos, flowers, letters to show the love they had for this girl.
“Bamba” Diaz, about Katherine: “Legends never die. She will never die”
Pre-selected nationally, she dreamed of being a surfing champion, like many in La Llibertat. But his legacy transcended sporting boundaries and reached the fundamental fibers of humanity by his way of being. It was she, along with other friends who not long ago gathered to collect groceries, clothes, food for the most needy, those who suffered most during the storms that left pain and grief in hundreds of families last year.
Katherine Díaz’s family accompanied her to El Tunco Beach to pay tribute to life. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes
From an early age her passion was the sea, and as her sister Erica explained, she herself had said that, when she died, she wanted to be fired here, on the beach, in La Bocana, where she reigned. Here he wanted their ashes scattered. The letters they gave them were burned and a very large group of surfers set out for the sea to scatter, along with many white flowers. It was his wish, he 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 ceremony that included the religious part, he was reminded of the ephemerality of life and the importance of valuing the power to breathe, to get up every day. Katherine could no longer after the lightning that took her away.
National surfers came to El Tunco Beach to pay tribute to the life of Katherine Diaz. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes
“A ray of light swept her away, she took her to another light,” her sister said. Katherine’s tragic death also reminds me of the fragility of life, and how in an instant everything can change.
“Forever Katherine,” someone shouted at the crowd. While, from the water, from hundreds of meters, the cries were heard in his name, in his honor, in his legacy, for the human being he was.
National surfers came to El Tunco Beach to pay tribute to the life of Katherine Diaz. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes
“I’m surprised to see so many people who came to accompany us, to see that so many people wanted her, knew her. I’m sad, but at the same time happy to see all this,” Erica explained. Forever Katy, your legend will live on.
“She was super happy to compete in this upcoming World Cup,” said her brother, José Díaz. Photo EDH / Jonatan Funes