Young winemaker suffocates in accident

Nerea Pérez, niece of Bierzo winemaker Raul Pérez, died earlier this week after suffocating on gasses in the family winery in Salas de los Barrios in Spain’s north-west.

Nerea Pérez was only 25 when she died in the accident (Photo: Twitter).

According to police Nerea, 25, fainted while inspecting a wine vat during fermentation and suffocated after falling in.

She was found unconscious by her uncle, Raul, one of Bierzo’s most highly regarded winemakers, and a National Police unit helped remove her from the vat but paramedics on the scene were unable to resuscitate her, according to InfoBierzo.

Nerea had been working in the winery for two years following her graduation from Coruña University in Chemistry and the Environment in 2012.

Nerea was also secretary of the Socialist Youth of Bierzo where the district secretary, Alvaro Gerardo Courel, expressed their grief: “We regret the loss of a member of Bierzo, a companion, which is made more painful by her youth.”

Raul Pérez is a well known winemaker in the Spanish region of Bierzo.

The candidate for Secretary General of the PSOE in Castilla y León, Julio Villarrubia, suspended all campaign events planned for today in León as a sign of respect.

Carbon dioxide poisoning during winemaking can occur easily if precautions are not taken.

The gas is colorless, odorless and heavier than air which means it sinks to the bottom of vats and in wine cellars and a concentration of just 8% is enough to kill an adult.