A California teacher who was six months pregnant has died in hospital after falling down a gorge while hiking in Greece, according to reports.
Clara Thomann, 33, of Santa Barbara was seriously injured after she “slipped and fell” 164 feet down a gorge in Preveli on the Greek island of Crete on the afternoon of Dec. 23, according to SFGate and local outlets Greek reporter and Nea Kriti.
Thomann, who was a teacher at Dos Pueblos High School, lost her unborn child in the fall and suffered multiple skull and chest fractures, according to media reports.
Footage obtained from Nea Kriti shows Thomann being rescued from the gorge by local fire and rescue teams. She appeared to be “alive and conscious” before being transported to a local hospital in Rethymno and then to the Intensive Care Unit of Chania Hospital, according to multiple reports.
Thomann was on holiday in Greece with her partner Elliott Finn ahead of the arrival of her first child, SF door reported.
Six months pregnant, Thomann was seriously injured in a hiking accident on December 23.
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The mother-to-be was declared brain dead from injuries on Sunday, December 29, according to Greek reporter.
Thomann’s family said they were “heartbroken” in the CaringBridge announcement and shared that they had donated her organs, including her heart, liver and pancreas, following her wishes.
“Despite the best efforts of many doctors, we lost ‘Crunch Wrap’, our baby. Clara’s injuries were insurmountable and she was declared brain dead…we are all heartbroken,” the family wrote after the trip to Chania Hospital.
“Clara loved helping and teaching others. Of course she is an organ donor and we are happy to report that her heart, liver and pancreas have already been accepted for donation,” they shared. “We screamed and sobbed on the phone with friends and family, laughing… and thinking about all the lessons that Clara taught us.”
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Thomann and her partner Elliott Finn.
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Dos Pueblos Principal Bill Woodard said in a tribute, per Noozhawk“There are no words to describe the sadness we all feel. “Mrs. Thomann was so kind and such a great teacher who loved her students and science. Our hearts break for her family and for all of us who feel this loss.”
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Thomann and her baby’s remains were cremated in Athens, Greece, on Friday, January 3, according to another post on the CaringBridge website.
“Elliott will take some of the ashes to several places in Greece and Turkey that he wanted to share with Clara. Most of the ashes will travel to the United States with Barb, Beth and Greg in a few days,” the family wrote.
The mother of one of Thomann’s students, Jennifer Gamez-Sparrow, wrote in response: “My son was her student and she was his favorite teacher. I appreciated the leadership she showed in her classroom and how she made physics fun… She will be missed but never forgotten.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education