Sebastian Pinera: Authorities Release Details on Chile Ex-President's Death

Chile prosecutors have unveiled more information about former President Sebastian Pinera death, disclosing that he drowned following a helicopter crash he was piloting, AP reports.

The 74-year-old, who served as president from 2010 to 2014 and then from 2018 to 2022, lost his life on Tuesday during a flight over Lake Ranco, over 560 miles south of Santiago.

While investigations are ongoing, reports indicate adverse weather conditions in the area at the time.

Former President Sebastian Pinera's body was transported to Valdivia for an autopsy on Tuesday night.

Chile President Gabriel Boric, along with Piñera's widow, Cecilia Morel, and other relatives, received his body at Santiago airport on Wednesday morning as the nation mourns the tragic loss.

Sebastian Pinera's Last Moments

Sebastian Pinera was spending his holidays with his family in the lakeside resort of Bahía Coique when the unfortunate incident occurred, according to BBC.

An avid pilot, Pinera was flying his private helicopter, a skill recognized by aviation expert Eddie Miceli, who described him as "an excellent pilot."

After lunch with a friend on the southern shore of Lake Ranco, he was en route to the northern shore when the helicopter encountered difficulties.

The crash, just minutes after takeoff, is under investigation, considering the rainy weather and considerable cloud cover.

Pinera, along with his sister Magdalena and two other passengers, faced the helicopter's plunge into the lake.

Miraculously, Magdalena and the other survivors managed to swim ashore, escaping the tragic fate that befell the former president.

Magdalena, visibly shaken, praised her brother as "a great man, a generous and courageous man" when addressing the media.

Condolences and National Mourning Following Ex-President Sebastian Pinera Death

The news of Sebastian Pinera death resonated globally, evoking messages of condolences and honoring the departed leader as a symbol of democracy in a nation once overshadowed by military dictatorship, per ABC News.

Serving two terms from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022, Pinera faced and navigated through various crises, including a destructive earthquake and a tsunami, and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

His notable achievement during his presidency was leading Chile to become a global leader in vaccination.

Sebastian Pinera also played a pivotal role in the successful rescue of 33 miners trapped for 69 days in the Atacama Desert, earning gratitude from one of the rescued miners, Jimmy Sánchez.

"I am very grateful," Sánchez said. "He gave us our lives back."

However, Pinera's legacy was tarnished by accusations of his government's harsh response to protesters in 2019.

Allegations of disproportionate force and torture marred his administration's handling of demonstrations.

Sebastian Pinera was also the first figure from the political right to lead Chile since its return to democracy in 1990.

Despite his initial association with the center-right, he later opposed the extension of dictator Augusto Pinochet's rule during his tenure as an independent senator.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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