But his injured wife said yesterday (February 23) that she would have to confer with relatives before moving his body for burial ceremony at Wat Pa Dharma Uttayarn temple in Khon Kaen province in accordance to his wishes.
The wife of Chilean around-the-world cyclist Juan Francisco who was tragically killed when he was hit by pickup truck, and their two year old son are now under the care of doctors at the Bua Yai General Hospital.
Her son was in good health while the Singaporean spouse suffered a broken leg.
Juan Francisco who was attempting to enter the Guinness World of Records for cycling around the world was tragically killed when he and his family was hit by a pickup truck as they were cycling on the side of a road.
Officials from the Chilean consulate to Thailand have visited the mother and son and are coordinating with police to inspect the case file and the autopsy report.
It is expected that the documents will be made available within the next 7 – 15 days. Beside the officials, the pair was also visited by many well-wishers throughout the entire day.
A highway police officer Pol. Sgt. Maj. Jirang Prajong in charge of public service center on the Phon highway in Khon Kaen province, stated that the Franciscos had stopped and rested at his station and he found the family to be adorable and amiable.
He recalled that the he had personally advised them to wait for the rain to stop before continuing on their journey but they went anyway.
With regards to moving his body for funeral ceremonies at Wat Pa Dharma Uttayarn temple in accordance with his wishes, his wife stated that she had asked officials from the Chilean consulate to contact Mr. Francisco’s relatives asking them to fly to Thailand to personally view his body before any decision can be made on the matter.
Before the tragic accident, Juan Francisco had asked his wife that in the event of his death, his body was to be buried at this particular temple
The monk at the temple said the Chilean cyclist and family had stayed for 7 days at the temple.
Phra Thinphan Suthiyan related that the Franciscos had arrived at the temple on the evening of February 13 to pay their respects and pray at the temple.
Seeing as night was approaching, monks had invited them to rest and spend the night there.
Initially, the family only planned to stay for one night but being touched by the generosity and kindness of the people there, had remained there for 7 days.
Monks at the temple had also given them a carriage to replace the broken one that was carrying their 2 year old son.
His wife admitted that Juan Francisco had been very impressed and taken-in by the generosity and kindness of the monks and people at the temple.
All along their 4 year around-the-world cycling journey, the Franciscos had never stayed very long in any one place preferring to stay overnight at police stations and fire departments.
Wat Pa Dharma Uttayarn temple is the first and only place that the family had stayed for an extended period.
The Thai temple made such an impression on Juan Francisco that he became interested in Buddhism and asked for the Thai and Buddhist flags to carry on their journey.
He had also instructed his wife that he be buried here when he died, the monk revealed.
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