Friends of Luis Gobantes Santiago, who died in Lanzarote on October 25, 2011 at the age of 41, paid him an emotional tribute at the end of last month and placed his name on a plaque, which is installed on a bench on Las Cucharas beach. With this curious and emotional act, they wanted to remember this man, who fell in love with Lanzarote 20 years ago, when he set foot on this land for the first time.
So much so, that every time his job as a cameraman for Canal+ allowed him, he would take a plane and travel to the island. Unfortunately, he died on the island he fell in love with. It was October 25, 2011. His parents were on vacation in Lanzarote. He felt ill, asked them to take him to the hospital and before arriving, he died.
During the time he spent in Lanzarote, during his multiple vacations on this island, he made "innumerable friends", who wanted to pay him this emotional tribute. The idea of putting a plaque on a bench in Costa Teguise with the name of Luis Gobantes Santiago was proposed by Juan Carlos Albuixech, who had seen this type of tribute in a park in Edinburgh. Juan Carlos told a friend of the deceased, who made the necessary arrangements for the City Council to give him permission.
The drawing that can be seen on this plaque is a caricature that Luis used. His friends thought that the right place was Las Cucharas beach. "In fact, Luis always came to this place when he came to the island, to an island that he adored and always promoted," says his father.
During the event that took place in Las Cucharas, the female vocal group Pentawoman performed, singing songs that "Luis adored". In addition, the parish priest of Teguise, Alejandro Santana, also attended, who blessed the event.
"There were many who loved him for his character, his joy of living and his laughter. His work at Canal+ allowed him to promote the island and he traveled a lot to Lanzarote, so his friendships on the island were innumerable," says his father, for whom having this bench with Luis's plaque "is something exciting, because we will always be able to remember him there." "He is still present in everyone's memory, but also in front of the sea. It is the best tribute that could be paid to him. Thank you Lanzarote for welcoming Luis," says his father emotionally.
