Camino Photo of the Day: Rest in Peace, Guillermo
Over the years, I’ve posted many, many photos of the memorials to fallen pilgrims on the Camino. Pilgrims will often leave stones at these memorials in tribute to the fallen. Of all of them, this is the one that I think affects me the most. Guillermo Watt died on Camino about 27 kilometers from his goal at Santiago. That’s a day’s walk.
Date: 01 May 2013
Place: near Salceda (Province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain)
Today started: Arzúa (Province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain)
Pingback: Camino Photo of the Day: Myra Brennan – Pilgrims on the Way
I agree with you about the memorial to Guillermo. My maiden name is “Watt” and when I arrived at the memorial after a month of walking from Jean Pied-de-Porte it seemed a sign. I’d been a little worried about edema and weariness, but chalked it up to the long, long hike–of course I was swollen and tired. But thanks to Guillermo and thinking him possibly a Watt relative warning me about a hereditary heart weakness, when I got to Santiago I went to the ER to get checked and, sure enough, I was in heart failure with an aortic aneurism–due to undiagnosed aortic valve. There’s a chance that “Guillermo”–listened to the warning that his death conveyed to me–saved my life. It’s said that many pilgrims die the first night after the Camino–due to cardio stress. If I had gone on to Fiennes, as planned, it’s likely my aneurism would have burst. Thank you, soul friend and possibility relative, Guillermo Watt.
You wouldn’t by chance no anything more about his life?
Hello!
Wow! That’s an amazing story. I often think that some of the pilgrims who died on the way are looking out for us from their heavenly vantage point.
Unfortunately, the only thing I’ve been able to learn about him is that he was from Switzerland.
t