Title: Grieving Family and Friends Demand Justice for Late Skiier Mario Simeonov in Chepelare
In a poignant display of unity, nearly 60 residents from Kostinbrod, along with close friends, gathered in a peaceful protest at the "Mechi chal" ski slope in Chepelare, Bulgaria, to commemorate the first anniversary of the untimely demise of young ski enthusiast Mario Simeonov. The gathering, reported by Bulgarian National Radio, sought justice and better safety measures on the slope where Mario met his tragic end.
On February 6, 2021, the 21-year-old promising skier lost his life while descending the "Mechi chal" slope for the 14th time that day. An unfortunate collision with a tree outside the ski trail claimed his life, leaving a void in the hearts of his loved ones.
Disheartened by the lack of a known culprit in the investigation, the protestors carried a banner bearing Mario’s image, demanding justice and better safety measures with the powerful message, "Human life is above all. Justice for Mario."
Leading the protest was Mario’s sister, Vivian Petrov, who shared, "We’re organizing this protest because the case was closed with an unknown perpetrator, and the piste where my brother perished is still unsecured. Our fight is for this piste to be made safe, as the turn has neither a protective net, nor safety fences."
A skilled skier since his early teens, Vivian remembers her brother’s passion for the sport, "He was a proficient skier. We’ve been skiing since we were 6 or 7. If he skied ‘Mechi chal’, it’s because he knew the slope well, but it’s sadly not safe for advanced skiers either."
The probe into Mario’s fatal accident has concluded with an unknown perpetrator, leaving his loved ones unsatisfied and prompting today’s emotional rally, calling for justice, safer pistes, and better skiing standards in Bulgaria.
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