Oregon dad, 39, dies mid-flight from Bolivia

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — On Monday, Andres Castro and his wife were returning back to their Oregon home from a trip to Bolivia to celebrate her birthday. But Andres never made it.

The 39-year-old died of a heart attack during the flight. The plane made an emergency landing in Colombia — and that’s where he is at this time.

Now his family is pleading with the community and lawmakers for help to bring his body home.

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“We all miss him. We just can’t believe he’s gone,” his sister, Tiffany Castro, told KOIN 6 News. “I feel broken, our whole family, it’s hard, trying to keep it together the best that we can.”

Though there was a 10-year age difference between Tiffany and her brother, she said she’s never felt closer to him.

“Every time we were together he was just so funny,” she said.

While navigating her grief, she’s also trying to figure out how to bring her brother’s body back home to Clackamas, a complicated process that could cost the Castro family $25,000.

The family started a GoFundMe to help defray the costs.

“It’s a process with the embassy and my family,” she said. “We’re all just trying to work together to figure it out.”

Sen. Ron Wyden’s office confirmed to KOIN 6 News they’re now helping the family navigate the international process in order to plan a funeral.

Andres Castro left behind his wife, their young son, his parents and all his siblings.

“It’s just hard to believe that he’s not here,” she said. “That’s all.”

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