To say that I was shocked and very saddened by the news of the death of José Matías Rívas (Pepe “Chispas”) is a grave understatement.

Friendly giant, 43-year-old Pepe was the Almuñécar chief electrician and a personal friend going back to the late 80’s.

As Dave reported a few days ago, Pepe was involved in a road accident whilst riding his scooter coming down Avenida Costa del Sol, not far from Costa Banana a little after 11.00h.

Nothing is certain about the accident but it appears he hit a parked car: “He was going slowly with his helmet on and simply keeled over and hit his head against the stationary vehicles,” said one eyewitness, so first indications are that he may have fainted prior to impact.

He was rushed to the medical centre and even though a helicopter was already standing by to fly him to Granada, it was futile as he was declared dead before it could be used.

Friends and most of the Town Hall staff were waiting outside the medical centre when the news was given.

Everybody loved Pepe – he was just that kind of person who people always do. His widow, Almuñécar International School teacher, Alicia, is very much in the thoughts of everybody that knows them.

Stop press: I went to his funeral service at Almuñécar’s main church and I can honestly say that I have never seen so many people gathered there for such an occasion: the priest had opened the large inner doors so that those gathered outside could see in. These doors are only normally only opened for getting the Virgen in and out at Easter.

The mourners completely covered the terraced area in front of the main doors and filled the adjacent street up to the Casa de la Cultura.

This second photos best depicts just how many people there were, as they queued to reach the church from the Carrera de la Concepción roundabout. In fact, there were so many people that the priest asked the hundreds of people gathered not to press the family with their condolences.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia – Photos: infocostatropical)