‘His spirit is still alive’

Body found of 30-year-old Delray Beach man caught in flash flood in Brazil

The body of Raul Jiménez, a 30-year-old Delray Beach man, was discovered in a national park in Brazil on Wednesday afternoon, days after he went hiking with friends and was caught in a flash flood.

His father, Raul Jiménez Sr., said his son and a few friends were several hours into their hike Saturday afternoon when the water unexpectedly rolled in. Jiménez’s friends climbed to higher ground, but Jiménez was closer to one of the waterfalls in the park, unable to cling onto the rocks.

In minutes, the water rose to three or four feet high, said Jiménez Sr., 71.

“The water was too great,” he said.

Jiménez and his friends were hiking in the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros. The park is in the northeastern area of the State of Goiás. Hiking and bathing in the waterfalls are a common attraction to the park, according to the park’s website.

Jiménez, a musician who loved traveling, biology and plants, went to Brazil to immerse himself in the culture and nature, his father said. He had been there for about two weeks.

“During their hike at the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, the water around the group began to rise, going from where they were able to walk on rocks to waist deep within just minutes,” friends of Jiménez wrote in a campaign on GoFundMe, a fundraising website. “Shortly after, the water became shoulder deep, and Raul was swept away.”

Jiménez Sr. said first responders began searching immediately Saturday afternoon but were forced to stop once it grew dark.

“It’s a very treacherous terrain. It was raining and very, very difficult,” he said.

The search continued until divers found his son’s body in the river Wednesday, once the water receded.

Jiménez had played drums and later flute for Aliança Divina, a five-person music band that would meet between Delray and

Boca Raton, according to its founder, Cátia dos Santos.

“He was the person holding the heartbeat of our rhythm, because he was the drummer,” dos Santos said. “He holds the heartbeat of each song that we present.”

She described the music the band would make together as “medicine music,” focused on spirituality and connecting to nature.

The band held a sacred circle Tuesday, the day before Jiménez’ body was found, to pray that he would be found alive, dos Santos said. More than 40 people came.

“We are obviously suffering with this happening,” dos Santos said. “We were very hopeful we should still be able to sing with him and pray with him and hug him.”

Both dos Santos and Jiménez Sr. believe that

Jiménez’ spirit survives after his death.

“It’s very hard for us to lose him. But we know that his spirit is still alive, and his energy is still with us, and we cherish the fact that he lived with us for 30 years and we know we’re eventually going to see him again,” Jiménez Sr. said.