Schoolboy from Wales dies on cycling trip to shrine in Spain

A schoolboy from Wales has died during a school cycling trip to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Michael Cura, aged 16, was on a pilgrimage to the Galician city with 20 students and eight staff from Bishop Vaughan Catholic School in Swansea, reports Wales Online.

The party was due to cycle a total of 560 miles, riding between 50 and 60 miles a day, to the shrine which has been a destination for pilgrims since medieval times.

The teenager, who lived in Morriston with his two brothers and parents, originally from the Philippines, fell ill on Thursday and died that evening.

Father Jason Jones of the Sacred Heart Church, where the youngster was an altar boy, said: “The parish community of the Sacred Heart at Morriston are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden death of Michael.

“The family and friends of Michael attended a special mass this morning before jetting off from Heathrow.

“He was a fun loving, caring and committed altar boy and a helper for the disabled youth.

He added that Michael was “A caring, greatly loved and popular young man who will be very missed.”

“It is a very emotional time for the family and for the whole community.”

In a statement published on its website, the school said: "Bishop Vaughan Catholic School has been devastated by the sudden death of a sixth form student whilst participating in a pilgrimage to Spain yesterday.

"The school is supporting the student's family at this extremely difficult time and their thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends."