Investigation Launched After Rugby Icon Eddie Butler Found Dead in Peru
Authorities in Peru are conducting an investigation into the death of the former Welsh rugby captain, Eddie Butler, who passed away at 65 years old.
Butler’s body was found inside his tent on Thursday morning, September 15, by the tour firm that had taken him to a campsite at the beginning of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
Peruvian publication Diario Correo published a photo purportedly showing locals carrying Butler on a stretcher from the location.
According to South American outlet infobae, police and prosecutors have initiated an investigation, although no details about the possible cause of death have been released yet.
The location where Butler was discovered, Kilometre 82, is a four-day hike from Machu Picchu, with the campsite near the town and Inca archaeological site of Ollantaytambo close to Cuzco.
The prosecutor leading the investigation has been identified locally as Hugo Jara Palomino.
Butler, survived by his wife Susan and six children, was confirmed to have passed away in a statement posted on social media by Prostate Cymru.
They expressed their devastation at the loss of their esteemed ambassador Eddie Butler, calling him the voice of Wales and highlighting his commitment to their charity. They also mentioned his participation in the Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu with 25 Prostate Cymru fundraisers, including his daughter Nell, before his passing at the Ecoinka base camp in the Peruvian Andes.
The charity refrained from providing further comments and urged the public to respect the family’s privacy during this challenging time.
