Red Cross ends search for hiker in Costa Rica
August 31st, 2009 | by admin |
It’s been nearly three weeks since the search began in Costa Rica for a missing doctoral student from Chicago. On Sunday, the Red Cross ended its rescue efforts, at least temporarily.
On Aug. 11, 28-year-old David Gimelfarb set out for a solo trek through dense Rincon de Vieja National Park, a popular location. His SUV was found by park rangers. Authorities do not suspect foul play.
Roma and Luda Gimelfarb of Highland Park are in the Central American country helping in the search for their son. They saw rescue teams come and go. For several days, the British organization ResQglobal had a team assisting in the effort, but the group pulled out over a week ago.
According to a Facebook page dedicated to Gimelfarb’s rescue, his parents have now hired a group of about 40 local people familiar with the terrain to continue the search.
Park rangers also are assisting in the search.
Friends at Adler School of Professional Psychology, where Gimelfarb is a doctoral student, set up the Facebook page; it now has 2,100 members.
On Sunday morning, Gimelfarb’s mother said on Facebook that “it is not time to give up hope. We must keep looking for David.”
To raise funds to help in the search-and-rescue mission Gimelfarb’s friends are holding a benefit at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dollop, 4181 N. Clarendon. The open-mike event is a tribute to Gimelfarb’s love of the arts, writes his friend Chris Shaw on Facebook.
“David draws, writes poetry and silly songs,” Shaw says. “And Dollop is one of his favorite hangouts in Chicago.”
