The respected Bulgarian doctor and specialist in pediatrics Dr. Ivelina Bozhkova is the woman who died in the serious accident in the northwestern part of Rila on Saturday. The bad news was officially announced by her relatives, colleagues and fellow graduates from the Faculty of Medicine, according to the information portals dnes.dir.bg and vesti.bg. She was a Republican consultant in pediatric pulmonology for Southeast Bulgaria and a long-time lecturer at the Trakia University in Stara Zagora.
How did the serious mountain accident near Malyovitsa come about?
The tragedy took place in the afternoon of August 22, when Dr. Bozhkova was part of an organized group of tourists who climbed the 2,729-meter-high Malyovitsa peak. According to data from the Mountain Rescue Service (MSS), cited by clinica.bg, the incident was reported at around 2:10 p.m.
While descending a steep path with mixed grassy and rocky terrain, the doctor slipped and fell down the slope for more than 50 meters. As a result of the fall, she received an extremely severe and life-threatening head injury.
Problems with the air evacuation and rescue operation
Immediately after the incident, the victim's companions reported a signal to 112. A medical helicopter was promptly dispatched to the scene. However, due to the high altitude and the lack of a suitable and safe landing site, the "air ambulance" was unable to reach the victim.
The Mountain Rescue Service requested urgent assistance from the Air Force (AVS), the dariknews.bg website reported. A military helicopter "Cougar" took off from the "Krumovo" airbase, whose crew managed to reach the group. However, when the rescue teams arrived, Dr. Bozhkova had already died, and the military aircraft only transported her body to the area of the “Malyovitsa“ hut.
A huge loss for Bulgarian medicine
Dr. Ivelina Bozhkova graduated from the Thracian University in 2000. Over the years, she acquired key specialties in “Children's Diseases“ and “Children's Pneumology and Phthisiology“. Since 2001, she has worked tirelessly as an assistant at the Pediatrics Clinic of the University Hospital “Prof. Dr. Stoyan Kirkovich“ in Stara Zagora, and since 2014 she has also served as a republican consultant, the medical website clinica.bg states in its publication.
Her colleagues and students will remember her as an exceptional professional, a dedicated teacher and a sunny person who saved the lives of hundreds of Bulgarian children. A tribute to her bright memory!