Paramedic Influencer Dies In Motorbike Accident Minutes After Giving Away His Shoes To A Refugee

Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment a Colombian influencer and paramedic gives away his shoes to a Venezuelan refugee walking on a motorway – and is killed by a lorry minutes later while riding his motorcycle barefoot.

Colombian man Duvan Stid Maldonado Mantilla, 24, tragically died in a traffic accident moments after he was filmed doing the kind act on a motorway in the Colombian department of Santander on Sunday 18th April.

Duvan was known in his community for being selfless, always looking for ways to help other people and he did various social projects in the area.

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The 24-year-old had amassed a following of 42,800 followers on Instagram with his posts which mainly spoke about medical and social issues.

The video shows Duvan putting a shoe on someone who takes a child off his shoulders and properly fixes the garment on his foot as Duvan reaches for his second shoe as the video ends.

The man he helped was reported to be a Venezuelan refugee walking with his daughter on his shoulders on a motorway that connects the town and municipality of San Gil with the city of Bucaramanga. Duvan saw them while riding his motorbike and decided to help.

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However, the 24-year-old tragically died minutes after the filming of the footage when he was run over and killed by a lorry just a few kilometres away while he was riding his motorbike.

Infobae said Duvan was only wearing socks on his feet at the time of his accident after giving away the pair of shoes he was wearing. (https://bit.ly/3gICO8H)

He was reportedly accompanied by two other people when he suffered his fatal accident but the circumstances surrounding it are still unclear and are under investigation.

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Local Mayor Leonel Media said: “The accident happened this Sunday where there are two curves next to each other. The deceased man was riding in front of another two friends who were not able to see what happened.”

Local broadcast Caracol Radio said Duvan’s close friends and family are deeply mourning his passing as one friend, who was not named, described him as “a marvellous person who was always thinking about others”. (https://bit.ly/3gzslMu)

Although riding a motorbike barefoot as possible, it is not advised as generally it is difficult to change gear barefoot depending on the type of motorcycle.