Latest news with #HamzaBenhilal
Global News
26-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Global News Weekend at 6 Calgary: June 25, 2025
A relative of one of two people killed in a rockslide at Bow Glacier Falls last week has arrived in Calgary. He is meeting with his brother's friend and a survivor as he continues to process what happened. Together they are hoping to repatriate the body of Hamza Benhilal. The Alberta Next online survey is now live ahead of a summer of townhalls across the province focused on how to further push back against the federal government. But one question around immigration is raising some serious concerns. During a turbulent period of global trade, it can be easy for small businesses to lose sight of the future. The Province of Alberta is spending nearly $3 million, continuing a mentorship and support program allowing businesses to think big - and trade bigger.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘I just held her hand': Hikers reflect on loss, heroism after fatal rockslide at Bow Glacier Falls
A photo taken of Jutta Hinrichs and her friend Cindy Macarthur shortly before a rockfall that took place at Bow Glacier Falls last week, killing Hinrichs and a 33-year-old man, Hamza Benhilal Nearly a week after a deadly rockslide near Bow Glacier Falls, survivors are speaking out — recounting moments of terror, extraordinary courage, and the deep grief of losing fellow hikers. Two people — Jutta Hinrichs, 70 and Hamza Benhilal, 33 — were killed in the slide on the afternoon of June 20 while hiking on the trail in Banff National Park. Thirteen others were also injured and evacuated via helicopter by search and rescue teams. Cindy Macarthur, a member of the Slow and Steady Hikers of Calgary, was eating her lunch alongside several others, just steps away from the nearby waterfall. That's when she heard a loud cracking sound and the slope above gave way without warning. 'It was so loud, like a huge branch being broken,' she recalled. 'We looked up and then all of a sudden the rocks came flying at us in pieces—like Lego—starting to fall.' Macarthur says hundreds of boulders – some of them the size of trucks – were flying right past her, one of them just narrowly missing her shoulder. 'I thought I can't do this anymore, I can't outrun these rocks. So, I tripped and fell on the ground and quickly went off to the left of the trail. I think that is what maybe saved me from getting bulldozed over.' Helping the wounded When the dust settled, she and others quickly sprang into action. Total strangers, some injured themselves, began helping the wounded — checking pulses, performing CPR, using satellite phones to reach emergency crews, and offering comfort to those who were gravely hurt. 'That's when I saw Jutta lying there, and she was unresponsive,' Macarthur recalled, her voice heavy with emotion. 'She wasn't moving, she wasn't breathing. I thought, 'I have to try to help her.' So, I just went over there and told her help was on its way. I said 'please hang in there. I'm going to be here,' and I just held her hand. I mean, if I in my final moments I would want someone to be there.' 'You're not closing your eyes!' In the chaotic moments after the rockslide, Cindy Macarthur and the hiking group rallied to help those injured, including Khaled El Gamel, who was seriously hurt. El Gamel was one of two hikers airlifted from the site in Banff National Park while another was taken by ground ambulance. Khaled El Gamel was standing near Bow Glacier Falls with his friend when the rock wall crumbled. He's recovering in hospital. His friend did not survive. Khaled El Gamel was standing near Bow Glacier Falls with his friend when the rock wall crumbled. He's recovering in hospital. His friend did not survive. The 28-year-old told CTV News earlier this week that he froze in the moment, but it was the sound of his best friend Hamza Benhilal yelling to run which saved his life. Sadly, Benhilal didn't make it and was killed in the slide. Macarthur recounted the moment in which El Gamel was found in serious pain on the trail. 'He was laying there, and I could see he was hurting bad,' Macarthur said. 'I was telling him, 'You're not closing your eyes! You're not closing your eyes!'' Her urgent voice cut through the panic as she tried to keep El Gamel conscious. 'I was holding his hand, squeezing it, just trying to keep him with us,' she explained. 'It was really important to stay connected.' Others in the group joined in, providing support while waiting for rescue. 'We were doing everything we could — talking to him, keeping him awake, giving him water and everyone came together. Even though we were all scared, we kept going.' A Go Fund Me campaign has since been set up for Benhilal to provide financial relief for his family, to cover funeral costs and repatriate him back to his home country of Morrocco. Tight-knit hiking family For Tracy Aiello, co-organizer of the Slow and Steady Hikers group and a close friend of Hinrich's, the outpouring of support and the quick response from fellow hikers were a testament to the strength and heart of Alberta's outdoor community. 'Our hikers are prepared. We check weather, gear, and experience. We turn people away if they aren't properly equipped,' Aiello explained. 'Many of us carry satellite devices like a Garmin, and we always submit a trip plan with Search and Rescue. We're like a tight-knit family, we share water, we share snacks, we share blankets, we share layers. That's what we do. 'That's what everyone did on last Thursday,' Aiello added, 'and I thank God that there was so many wonderful people out there that were so prepared.' Despite all the preparation however, nothing could have predicted what happened at Bow Glacier Falls. 'Jutta was a beautiful soul,' Aiello said through tears. Jutta Hinrichs of Calgary Jutta Hinrichs was killed in a rock slide at Banff National Park's Bow Glacier on June 19, 2025. (Supplied) 'She was supposed to be on my hike this Saturday. We celebrated birthdays together, I remember laughing with her like little kids on the playground at Bow Valley Campground on one of those days — she wore a tiara and went down the slide. Her smile will never leave me." Hinrichs had recently returned from a bucket-list trip to South America, where she hiked the world famous Machu Pichu among wildlife and high trails in Peru. It was a dream fulfilled. 'She was so happy telling us about it on the hike,' Macarthur recalled. 'I'm at peace knowing she achieved one of her life's missions.' Remembering Jutta A memorial walk is planned for Thursday, July 3, at Calgary's Weaselhead Flats, where friends, fellow hikers, and community members will honour Riedel's life. 'There will be a book to sign, photos to share,' Aiello said. 'And we'll walk together in nature — just like Jutta would've wanted.' 'When you spend six to eight hours on a trail with someone, you see them in their truest form. That's how I knew Jutta — joyful, caring, and full of life.' The free hike will start at 6:30 pm to facilitate members after work transportation. 'We hope this brings heart healing to some and/or an opportunity to walk and talk it out to others,' reads the event's description on the website. 'Therefore we welcome you to walk quietly in camaraderie with others or visit and chat. Your needs will be respected either way.' Bow Glacier Falls Trail remains closed Parks Canada confirmed the tragic rockfall was the result of a natural geotechnical process. 'Geotechnical assessments indicate that this tragic rockfall was the result of a natural process common in mountain areas,' Parks Canada said in a statement. 'Events of this size are extremely rare and, sadly, this event appears to have been neither preventable nor predictable.' While Banff National Park, Bow Lake, and the route to the Alpine Club of Canada's Bow Hut remain open, the Bow Glacier Falls trail is closed until further notice. A map of the closure area can be found here: Parks Canada Closure Map A helicopter is shown close to the scene of a rock slide near Bow Glacier Falls north of Lake Louise, Alta. in Banff National Park on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal A helicopter is shown close to the scene of a rock slide near Bow Glacier Falls north of Lake Louise, Alta. in Banff National Park on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal 'Safety is our top priority,' Parks Canada said. 'We will take time to consider all options before making decisions related to the reopening of this backcountry area.' Parks Canada encourages visitors to take precautions when hiking in areas prone to rockfall: Plan for short rests behind rock bluffs or faces, and longer rests near ridgelines. Cross gullies quickly and avoid lingering in them. Wear a helmet, which can be rented from local outfitters. Until further notice, no new permits or reservations will be issued for the Bow Glacier Falls area.
CBC
25-06-2025
- CBC
Survivor of Banff rockfall says friend who died saved him
A survivor of a rockfall last week in Banff National Park says his 33-year-old roommate Hamza Benhilal, who didn't make it out alive from under the rubble, warned him of the falling rocks and saved his life. Khaled Elgamal, 28, of Surrey, B.C., remembered his friend's last moments at Bow Glacier Falls, about 200 kilometres northwest of Calgary.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Best friend's incredible act of bravery to sacrifice himself when rockslide hit Canada beauty spot
A man is mourning the loss of his best friend - whose dying act was to protect him from a horrifying rockslide at a Canadian national park. Khaled El Gamal, 28, said his roommate Hamza Benhilal, 33, is the reason he is still alive. The friends were hiking in Banff National Park when a deadly rain of rubble started pouring down over the Bow Glacier Falls hiking trail on Thursday around 1:30pm. 'It sounded like a thunderstorm,' El Gamal told the National Post from a hospital bed. He did not have time to register the landslide headed their way before Benhilal, who was standing in front of him, heroically shouted for his friend to flee - knowing it was too late for himself. 'He saved me by screaming,' El Gamal said, retelling the gut-wrenching moment. 'I froze like a deer in headlights.' Following Benhilal's command, El Gamal sprinted as far as he could from the oncoming rock that tragically killed his friend. He was then struck by a rock, causing him to topple over. As he collapsed, he saw Benhilal for the last time before he vanished into the dust and debris. El Gamal nearly died, recalling how it felt to be pelted during the natural disaster. He said he 'was blacking out' every time a rock slammed into his head. Finally, when the terror came to an end, El Gamal cautiously found the strength to emerge from the ruins. Bleeding, shaking and in a tremendous amount of pain, he trekked down the mountain - following the sound of blood-curdling screams from the hikers below. He was greeted by those unharmed by the catastrophe, who told him to sit while the got him help. 'I was soaked in blood and barely managing myself,' he told the National Post. 'It was the most pain I've ever experienced.' But through his suffering and delirium, he still managed to tell them his friend Benhilal was missing. On Friday, search teams scoured the trail for the bodies of victims, retrieving Benhilal and the corpse of another victim, 70-year-old retired educator, Jutta Hinrichs. El Gamal was rushed to hospital with severe bruising, as well as a fractured pelvis and shoulder blade. He was covered in cuts with dried blood and bruises covering most of his face with a neck brace on. El Gamal was informed that his companion's body was found on the following day. He has been having nightmares ever since. El Gamal, originally from Egypt and Benhilal, who lived in Morocco, met through a virtual college course at University Canada West in 2022. They both decided to make the big move to British Columbia and became roommates in Canada later that year. El Gamal started working as a financial advisor, while Benhilal was an engineer. In an attempted escape from the everyday hustle, they decided to take a trip to Banff, where a hotel employee suggested they visit the ill-fated Bow Glacier Falls trail. 'We didn't even have it on our bucket list for that day. We were planning to go to Lake Louise,' he admitted to the National Post. Another friend on vacation with them had actually opted out of the hiking excursion, only dropping El Gamal and Benhilal off at the stunning national park before returning to the hotel. Authorities believe Benhilal and Hinrichs are the only victims who died in the disastrous incident. 'We feel that everyone has been identified and accounted for,' RCMP Cpl Gina Slaney told
National Post
24-06-2025
- National Post
'He saved me': Banff rockfall survivor pays tribute to friend who died on Bow Glacier Falls trail
A survivor of a rockfall last week in Banff National Park is remembering his 33-year-old roommate, who didn't make it out alive from under the rubble, as a kind and generous friend. Article content Khaled Elgamal says Hamza Benhilal of Surrey, B.C., was one of two people who died after a slab of mountain gave way Thursday, raining rock down on hikers at Bow Glacier Falls, about 200 kilometres northwest of Calgary. Article content Article content 'He was my friend but also like my big brother,' Elgamal, 28, said in an interview Monday from a hospital bed in Calgary. He is recovering from a fractured pelvis and shoulder, cuts and scrapes. Article content Article content 'I'm still shocked,' said Elgamal. 'I'm still getting flashbacks of the scene.' Article content He said he met Benhilal in 2022 when they were enrolled in the same online master of business administration program at University Canada West. Article content Elgamal was living in Egypt and Benhilal was in Morocco. They both moved to B.C. in 2022 and became housemates. Article content Elgamal, now a financial adviser, and Benhilal, an engineer, had just arrived in Banff for a vacation and a hotel worker recommended they visit Bow Glacier Falls, as the site's parking lot is usually less crowded. Article content 'We didn't even have it on our bucket list for that day. We were planning to go to Lake Louise,' Elgamal said. Article content He said a third friend on the trip decided to stay behind at the hotel, and he and Benhilal drove to the falls. Article content 'We took a bunch of pictures at the lake first and then started the hike to the waterfall.' Article content Article content Article content Article content 'It sounded like a thunderstorm.' Article content When he turned around, Elgamal said he saw a large boulder fall from the mountain and shatter into pieces when it hit the ground. Article content Benhilal was in front of him and screamed at Elgamal to run. Article content 'He saved me by screaming,' Elgamal said. 'I froze like a deer in headlights.' Article content Elgamal said he turned and ran a few steps, and a rock hit his feet and he fell to the ground. He looked up and saw his friend for the last time running and eventually disappearing in the dust. Article content Elgamal said he was in and out of consciousness on the ground as stones hit his head and body. 'Every time a rock was hitting me, I was blacking out.' Article content 'I was bleeding and looking around,' he said. He then forced himself to get up.
