Some farewells speak of absence, while others, even amid immense grief, choose to speak of everything that remains. Yamileth Pasmiño, partner of Gonzalo Balado, a 40-year-old Argentine surfer who died after suffering an accident in the sea off Rapa Nui, chose to express gratitude.
“Qué privilegio ser amada por vos”, she wrote on social media hours after the death of the man with whom she had built a life away from Argentina.
Gonzalo, a Mar del Plata native and passionate about surfing, had been living on Easter Island for several years. There, he shared not only his home with Yamileth but also a gastronomic venture and a daily life deeply connected to the ocean.
His death occurred on Tuesday while he was surfing alongside two other people in an area with large waves and rocks. But in Yamileth’s message the accident took a backseat for a moment. Her farewell was focused on the love they shared and on the impact Gonzalo left on those who knew him.
“You went to ride the eternal wave”
In an Instagram story, Yamileth found an image tied precisely to what Gonzalo loved most to try to put into words his departure.
“Qué privilegio ser amada por vos, te fuiste a surfear la ola eterna y ahora acompañarás por siempre mis viajes, pero desde otro plano”, she wrote.
And then came the gratitude: “¡Gracias por el mar de amor que dejaste en todos nosotros! Eso no lo hace cualquiera.”
The choice of words does not seem accidental. The sea, which had been part of Gonzalo’s life and his passion for surfing, also appears transformed into a metaphor for the affection he sowed around him. “What a privilege to be loved by you. You went to ride the eternal wave.”
A farewell envisioned as Gonzalo would have liked
Yamileth also shared how they plan to honor him. She did not speak of a solemn ceremony, but of a gathering shaped by the things that were part of his world.
“We will honor Gon with a barbecue, fire, fernet, surfing videos, his brothers and family as he would have liked,” she announced.
In addition, she opened the farewell to anyone who wishes to approach: “Canyone who wants to come by to share is welcome.”
A final gathering thought from the memory of who Gonzalo was: surfing, friends, family, fire, and the moments shared.
Who was Gonzalo Balado
Balado was born in Mar del Plata and was 40 years old. For years he had lived on Easter Island, where he integrated into the local community and was known as “El Che” or “Gonchi”.
His life on the island revolved around gastronomy and surfing. Together with Yamileth he ran a small restaurant and, whenever possible, returned to the sea.
The provincial presidential delegate of Easter Island, Mai Teao, remembered him as a passionate surfer closely tied to the community: “Le decíamos ‘Che’, un surfista de grandes olas. Es un enamorado del surf acá.”
The accident that ended in tragedy
The accident occurred around 4:30 PM on Tuesday, when Gonzalo was in the water with two other surfers.
According to information released by Chilean maritime authorities, he apparently suffered trouble during a maneuver at the break when the group was about to end the session.
His companions managed to pull him from the water and he was transported to the Hospital of Rapa Nui, where doctors attempted to resuscitate him for about 40 minutes. However, they could not save him. The preliminary cause reported was asphyxia due to drowning.
The other two surfers were rescued and are in good condition.
While his family considers with authorities where Gonzalo will finally be laid to rest, Yamileth shared one of the most poignant images after the tragedy: that of someone who, even in the face of an irreparable loss, could look back at the shared history and thank having been loved.
Because perhaps that is why her words move so much. They do not merely say “I miss you.” They say something even deeper: thank you for having existed in my life.
