Paolo Sánchez Carrasco, a 14-year-old teenager, was found dead on Saturday, July 19 on the Iztaccíhuatl volcano, in the area known as “Dos Portillos”, at an altitude of 4,780 meters.
According to initial reports, the minor entered Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park through Paso de Cortés on July 12, without a guide or the necessary mountain equipment.
Paolo Sanchez: “I’m going to freeze”.
Before losing contact with his relatives, Paolo recorded a video that went viral on social networks.
In it, with a worried voice and a certain nervous humor, he said: “It turns out and it stands out that here the night is spent in minus 2 degrees… I don’t even have a sleeping bag… I’m going to freeze, the next refuge is on the other side of the mountain”.
The starkness of his warning about the lack of shelter and the remoteness of the shelter was interpreted by the rescue brigades as a clear sign of high risk.
Search and rescue operations
Paolo’s disappearance was reported on July 17 by the Attorney General’s Office of the CDMX, after he was last seen in the Romero de Terreros neighborhood.
Teams from the CDMX Search for Persons Commission, the Alpine Rescue Brigade and Civil Protection, together with volunteer groups and Navy personnel, began intensive work that lasted several days.
His body was finally located on July 19, and his death was attributed to hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to extreme weather.
Hypothermia: aggressive and silent
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can generate it, and can be fatal within hours, especially at temperatures near -2 °C.
Symptoms include intense tremor, stammering, incoordination, confusion and, eventually, loss of consciousness.
The video showed disorientation, suggesting that Paolo was already in the first signs of frostbite.
El jovencito Paolo Sánchez contó en su último video que moriría congelado porque no traía cosas para protegerse y pasar la noche arriba del volcán
Reflection on the tragedy of the Mexican
Buzzy
For Hispanic readers in the United States – many of whom practice mountaineering in states like Colorado, Utah or California – this case is a wake-up call: climbing in high mountain areas unprepared, without thermal equipment or backup, can have tragic consequences.
Key tips:
Never go alone; always go with certified guides.
Check weather conditions before departure.
Bring thermal clothing, layering, appropriate boots, sleeping bag and emergency communication.
Share itinerary with family members and activate location systems (GPS, apps, satellite signal).
Beyond the volcano: a loss that both hurts and teaches
Paolo’s death is shocking not only because of his young age, but also because of the lucidity of his video, a raw testimony of the risk he took.
This case reignites the debate on wilderness safety and the responsibility of accompanying minors on expeditions.
CONANP, following this event, has reiterated the need for stricter regulations, permits and supervision on vulnerable routes.
This is the last video that Paolo Sanchez recorded during his lifetime.
Find out more at ‘QueOnnda.com’.
