
'Run, run, run!' Hiker in hospital recounts Banff rockfall, mourns friend who died
National Post23-06-2025
An injured survivor of last Thursday's fatal rockfall in Banff National Park is remembering his friend Hamza Benhilal, who died in the slide, as a kind, generous person who was always there when needed.
Article content
Khaled Elgamal, 28, was one of two hikers airlifted by STARS air ambulance to the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary after suffering a broken pelvis and shoulder blade, as well as other injuries. He said he and Benhilal, who were visiting from Vancouver, were taking photos of the Bow Glacier Falls right before the disaster struck.
Article content
Article content
The rockfall killed Benhilal, 33, and Calgarian Jutta Hinrichs, who was 70. Benhilal's body was recovered by a search-and-rescue team Friday morning. Thirteen other hikers were injured or evacuated, including Elgamal, who is still in hospital.
Article content
Article content
Article content
While Parks Canada didn't release Benhilal's name, the agency did confirm Monday morning that a 33-year-old resident of Surrey, B.C., was the second hiker killed in the rockfall.
Article content
In addition to two fractured bones, Elgamal said he suffered various cuts and bruises on his back and legs, and received stitches to his forehead.
Article content
Elgamal said he and Benhilal both immigrated to Canada in 2022, and studied together for their MBAs. Elgamal is originally from Egypt, while Benhilal was from Morocco. Elgamal works as a financial advisor, while Benhilal was a network engineer. They were roommates in Surrey, B.C.
Article content
Benhilal was a good listener and mature beyond his years, according to Elgamal. He added his friend was well travelled and respected by his peers. Benhilal enjoyed playing tennis and would be very encouraging to new players of the sport.
Article content
Article content
'People would always approach him when they had problems,' Elgamal said. 'He was a very good listener and talked in a very mature way, always there whenever you needed him. Never did I ever ask him for something and he was not there for me.'
Article content
Having planned a trip to Alberta, Elgamal said they intended to visit Banff as well as some of the scenic lakes in the Bow Valley, including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
Article content
After a recommendation from someone they met at the hotel where they were staying, Elgamal said the two decided on Thursday to check out Bow Lake and the Bow Glacier Falls, a popular hiking spot approximately 40 kilometres north of Lake Louise.
Article content
The rockfall occurred around 1 p.m., when Elgamal and Benhilal were taking photos of the scenic waterfall.
Though he blacked out a few times during the rockslide, Elgamal said he 'can recall pretty much everything' about it. He and Benhilal had just ascended higher up the cliff face to take better photos. He figures they were likely the highest people up the mountain when they heard a loud crack, right before large rocks started to tumble down the cliff toward them.
Article content
Khaled Elgamal, 28, was one of two hikers airlifted by STARS air ambulance to the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary after suffering a broken pelvis and shoulder blade, as well as other injuries. He said he and Benhilal, who were visiting from Vancouver, were taking photos of the Bow Glacier Falls right before the disaster struck.
Article content
Article content
The rockfall killed Benhilal, 33, and Calgarian Jutta Hinrichs, who was 70. Benhilal's body was recovered by a search-and-rescue team Friday morning. Thirteen other hikers were injured or evacuated, including Elgamal, who is still in hospital.
Article content
Article content
Article content
While Parks Canada didn't release Benhilal's name, the agency did confirm Monday morning that a 33-year-old resident of Surrey, B.C., was the second hiker killed in the rockfall.
Article content
In addition to two fractured bones, Elgamal said he suffered various cuts and bruises on his back and legs, and received stitches to his forehead.
Article content
Elgamal said he and Benhilal both immigrated to Canada in 2022, and studied together for their MBAs. Elgamal is originally from Egypt, while Benhilal was from Morocco. Elgamal works as a financial advisor, while Benhilal was a network engineer. They were roommates in Surrey, B.C.
Article content
Benhilal was a good listener and mature beyond his years, according to Elgamal. He added his friend was well travelled and respected by his peers. Benhilal enjoyed playing tennis and would be very encouraging to new players of the sport.
Article content
Article content
'People would always approach him when they had problems,' Elgamal said. 'He was a very good listener and talked in a very mature way, always there whenever you needed him. Never did I ever ask him for something and he was not there for me.'
Article content
Having planned a trip to Alberta, Elgamal said they intended to visit Banff as well as some of the scenic lakes in the Bow Valley, including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
Article content
After a recommendation from someone they met at the hotel where they were staying, Elgamal said the two decided on Thursday to check out Bow Lake and the Bow Glacier Falls, a popular hiking spot approximately 40 kilometres north of Lake Louise.
Article content
The rockfall occurred around 1 p.m., when Elgamal and Benhilal were taking photos of the scenic waterfall.
Though he blacked out a few times during the rockslide, Elgamal said he 'can recall pretty much everything' about it. He and Benhilal had just ascended higher up the cliff face to take better photos. He figures they were likely the highest people up the mountain when they heard a loud crack, right before large rocks started to tumble down the cliff toward them.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
8 minutes ago
- CBC
How social media is helping with a shortage of surrogates in Canada
Having a child via surrogacy in Canada is becoming more and more popular. But that hasn't made setting up the process simple. And as Sarah Reid reports, the difficulties have many couples turning to social media.


CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
East Vancouver residents fed up with years of detoured trucks creating noise in neighbourhood
Residents in Vancouver's Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood say the noise from truck traffic detoured from the Port of Vancouver has been keeping them up. The port authority had said over a decade ago that the rerouting would be temporary. CBC's Kier Junos has the story.

CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Wildfires continue to ravage Saskatchewan, effecting cabins and traplines
Watch The damage from the wildfires in Saskatchewan could force some out of the trapline industry and their passions. CTV's Allison Bamford has more.