Funeral services held for Croatian hikers killed in Slovenian avalanche

Funeral services were held Saturday in Split and Kaštela for three Croatian hikers who lost their lives in an avalanche in Slovenia’s Julian Alps last Sunday.

Mario Bok was laid to rest in Gornje Ogorje, while brothers Roko and Andrija Kovačev were buried in Kaštel Lukšić. The tragedy has deeply shaken the community, prompting the city of Kaštela to declare a day of mourning.

“I can’t even imagine how the family feels because they’ve spent their whole lives with them. We, fellow hikers, will miss our friends very much,” said Marko Kovač from the hiking club HPD Mosor, which the hikers were members of.

“It’s a very difficult day for the entire hiking community, especially the families. This is a terrible tragedy for all of us. They were members of our club — three wonderful souls,” added fellow member Ivana Radonić.

The three hikers were swept away in an avalanche last Sunday while climbing Mt. Tosc in the Julian Alps.