‘Like my big brother’: Survivor of Banff rockfall says friend who died saved him
- On June 19, 2025, a rockslide occurred along the hiking trail near Bow Glacier in Banff National Park, resulting in the death of Hamza Benhilal and injuries to his companion, Khaled El Gamal.
- El Gamal and Benhilal, close friends and roommates since 2022, were on a vacation trip to Banff when a cliff collapsed unexpectedly due to natural geological forces.
- As boulders fell, Benhilal screamed at El Gamal to run, which snapped El Gamal out of shock and helped him escape while Benhilal was caught under the rubble.
- El Gamal described the moment as surreal, recalling how he saw rocks tumbling down from the side, and is currently receiving treatment in a Calgary hospital for fractures and lacerations.
- The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of rockslides and has led El Gamal to call for more psychological support for hikers and compensation for Benhilal's family.
9 Articles
9 Articles
Man Says His Friend Warned Him to Run Before Dying in a Rockslide: 'He Saved Me by Screaming'
Hamza Benhilal, 33, and Khaled El Gamal, 28, were visiting Banff National Park in Calgary, Canada, on Thursday, June 19, when a rockslide formed that killed Hamza Benhilal and injured Khaled El Gamal.
Friend Who Saved Banff Rockfall Survivor's Life Lost His Own
A survivor of the rockfall at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park is speaking out about how his best friend saved his life but lost his own. Khaled El Gamal is one of the badly injured survivors of last week’s rockfall who is currently recovering in the hospital with a fractured pelvis, fractured scapula, and many bumps and bruises. El Gamal spoke to the media about what happened, saying his friend and roommate Hamza Benhilal helped snap hi…
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