Austin ultrarunner Gastelum accidentally drowned
The following are Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com) articles about Hill Country Trail Runners member Rick Gastelum, 62, who went missing Friday night on a night run and accidentally drowned.
Preliminary autopsy shows nurse practitioner drowned
Brackenridge Hospital employee, marathon runner found near Barton Creek.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A nurse practitioner whose body was found over the weekend on the Barton Creek greenbelt accidentally drowned, according to a preliminary autopsy report from the Travis County medical examiner's office.
The body of Richard Gastelum, 62, was found Sunday near Barton Creek in the 3700 block of South Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). A relative declined to comment today on the preliminary report.
Gastelum, a marathon runner and a nurse practitioner who worked at Brackenridge Hospital for more than 30 years, was reported missing after he left his home in Western Travis County on Friday for a run.
Colleagues say devoted emergency room nurse was committed to a tough job
Body found Sunday identified as that of missing marathon runner.
By Joshunda Sanders
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Richard Gastelum, a beloved licensed registered nurse with a passion for running, was identified Monday as the man found dead in the Barton Creek greenbelt, Travis County officials said.
The cause of Gastelum's death has not been released, pending the results of an autopsy. He was 62.
Gastelum left his home in the 1100 block of San Augustine Drive in western Travis County on Friday night to go for run. When relatives had not heard from him by 9 p.m., they notified officials. About 50 rescuers started searching for him at 10 a.m. Saturday, and his body was found in the greenbelt Sunday near a running trail in Gus Fruh Park, near the 3700 block of South Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360).
Gastelum was described by his colleagues as a polite and dependable employee of Brackenridge Hospital for more than 30 years. During most of that time, he worked in the emergency room, most recently as a charge nurse — a leader on a specific shift, said Dr. Pat Crocker, chief of emergency medicine at Brackenridge.
"Rick never missed a day of work; he was very businesslike," said Travis Pipkin, a colleague. "And he was so fit that when I heard he was missing, it just made my heart sink. He was Mr. Consistent. Knowing how solid he was, news of him missing was chillingly ominous."
Gastelum ran 40 miles a week and flew to other cities to participate in marathons several times a year without missing a day of work, said Carmen Perez, a co-worker.
He ran almost every day, often on the Town Lake hike-and-bike trail. Running helped him relieve stress after eight- or 12-hour shifts, he told the Austin American-Statesman in 1998.
"Running gives you an opportunity to reflect and problem-solve," he said. "It's my time to plan, to make decisions or just to ruminate."
The rest of his time was devoted to helping others, his colleagues said. Crocker said Gastelum trained hundreds of nurses and participated in the care of thousands of Central Texans. Perez said Gastelum was so committed to his job that he arrived at the emergency room 15 minutes before his shift began and often worked hours after it was over to help others.
"The entire (hospital) staff is very saddened," Crocker said. "Rick was really a remarkable person, a highly skilled emergency nurse, and he remained a kindhearted individual despite the stress and trials of working in a trauma center. He'll be very much missed here."
Gastelum was a widower. His wife, Wanda, who died in 1996, was also a nurse and an avid runner.
He is survived by a daughter, Andrea, who is an actress, Pipkin said. She arrived Friday from Taiwan to visit Gastelum for a few days, Perez said.
"We tried to call him to tell him not to come back to work after he picked her up from the airport," Perez said. "But he just said, 'I have to finish my shift.' And that was the last time I spoke to him"
Funeral arrangements are not yet final, Crocker said.
joshundasanders@statesman.com; 445-3630
METRO & STATE BRIEFING
Austin nearly has rain-free day; Body found in Barton Creek greenbelt
Monday, July 09, 2007
Body may be missing runner
A body was found in the Barton Creek greenbelt Sunday that matched the description of a man who has been missing since Friday night, officials said. They said, the body had not been positively identified, however.
The body was found near a running trail in Gus Fruth Park, which is in the greenbelt. Searchers had been in the area looking for Richard Gastelum since 10 a.m. Saturday after he hadn't returned from a run the night before.
Gastelum, a 62-year-old nurse at Brackenridge Hospital who is an ultra-marathoner able to run 60 to 70 miles in adverse conditions, left his home in the 1100 block of San Augustin Road in western Travis County for a jog about 8 p.m. Friday, officials said. His family expected him back that night. He was last seen about 8:45 p.m. Friday on Scottish Woods Trail near Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway).
About 50 people have been involved in the search, officials said, including members of Hill Country Trail Runners, of which Gastelum was a member; the Austin Police Department's Air One helicopter; Travis County search-and-rescue team members and bloodhounds from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
METRO & STATE BRIEFING
Man, 62, goes missing during jog; SUV crashes into building after downtown chase
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Search on for missing jogger, 62
Travis County sheriff's officials continued their search late Saturday night for a man who disappeared in Commons Ford Park.
The man, 62-year-old Richard Gastelum, is a marathon runner who went on a jog to the West Travis County park about 8 p.m. Friday and never returned, said Capt. Art Cardenas of the sheriff's office.
Gastelum is in good shape and does not have any medical conditions that rescuers are concerned about, Cardenas said.
Gastellum is described as a white male who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, gray jacket and black shorts.
Preliminary autopsy shows nurse practitioner drowned
Brackenridge Hospital employee, marathon runner found near Barton Creek.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A nurse practitioner whose body was found over the weekend on the Barton Creek greenbelt accidentally drowned, according to a preliminary autopsy report from the Travis County medical examiner's office.
The body of Richard Gastelum, 62, was found Sunday near Barton Creek in the 3700 block of South Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). A relative declined to comment today on the preliminary report.
Gastelum, a marathon runner and a nurse practitioner who worked at Brackenridge Hospital for more than 30 years, was reported missing after he left his home in Western Travis County on Friday for a run.
Colleagues say devoted emergency room nurse was committed to a tough job
Body found Sunday identified as that of missing marathon runner.
By Joshunda Sanders
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Richard Gastelum, a beloved licensed registered nurse with a passion for running, was identified Monday as the man found dead in the Barton Creek greenbelt, Travis County officials said.
The cause of Gastelum's death has not been released, pending the results of an autopsy. He was 62.
Gastelum left his home in the 1100 block of San Augustine Drive in western Travis County on Friday night to go for run. When relatives had not heard from him by 9 p.m., they notified officials. About 50 rescuers started searching for him at 10 a.m. Saturday, and his body was found in the greenbelt Sunday near a running trail in Gus Fruh Park, near the 3700 block of South Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360).
Gastelum was described by his colleagues as a polite and dependable employee of Brackenridge Hospital for more than 30 years. During most of that time, he worked in the emergency room, most recently as a charge nurse — a leader on a specific shift, said Dr. Pat Crocker, chief of emergency medicine at Brackenridge.
"Rick never missed a day of work; he was very businesslike," said Travis Pipkin, a colleague. "And he was so fit that when I heard he was missing, it just made my heart sink. He was Mr. Consistent. Knowing how solid he was, news of him missing was chillingly ominous."
Gastelum ran 40 miles a week and flew to other cities to participate in marathons several times a year without missing a day of work, said Carmen Perez, a co-worker.
He ran almost every day, often on the Town Lake hike-and-bike trail. Running helped him relieve stress after eight- or 12-hour shifts, he told the Austin American-Statesman in 1998.
"Running gives you an opportunity to reflect and problem-solve," he said. "It's my time to plan, to make decisions or just to ruminate."
The rest of his time was devoted to helping others, his colleagues said. Crocker said Gastelum trained hundreds of nurses and participated in the care of thousands of Central Texans. Perez said Gastelum was so committed to his job that he arrived at the emergency room 15 minutes before his shift began and often worked hours after it was over to help others.
"The entire (hospital) staff is very saddened," Crocker said. "Rick was really a remarkable person, a highly skilled emergency nurse, and he remained a kindhearted individual despite the stress and trials of working in a trauma center. He'll be very much missed here."
Gastelum was a widower. His wife, Wanda, who died in 1996, was also a nurse and an avid runner.
He is survived by a daughter, Andrea, who is an actress, Pipkin said. She arrived Friday from Taiwan to visit Gastelum for a few days, Perez said.
"We tried to call him to tell him not to come back to work after he picked her up from the airport," Perez said. "But he just said, 'I have to finish my shift.' And that was the last time I spoke to him"
Funeral arrangements are not yet final, Crocker said.
joshundasanders@statesman.com; 445-3630
METRO & STATE BRIEFING
Austin nearly has rain-free day; Body found in Barton Creek greenbelt
Monday, July 09, 2007
Body may be missing runner
A body was found in the Barton Creek greenbelt Sunday that matched the description of a man who has been missing since Friday night, officials said. They said, the body had not been positively identified, however.
The body was found near a running trail in Gus Fruth Park, which is in the greenbelt. Searchers had been in the area looking for Richard Gastelum since 10 a.m. Saturday after he hadn't returned from a run the night before.
Gastelum, a 62-year-old nurse at Brackenridge Hospital who is an ultra-marathoner able to run 60 to 70 miles in adverse conditions, left his home in the 1100 block of San Augustin Road in western Travis County for a jog about 8 p.m. Friday, officials said. His family expected him back that night. He was last seen about 8:45 p.m. Friday on Scottish Woods Trail near Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway).
About 50 people have been involved in the search, officials said, including members of Hill Country Trail Runners, of which Gastelum was a member; the Austin Police Department's Air One helicopter; Travis County search-and-rescue team members and bloodhounds from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
METRO & STATE BRIEFING
Man, 62, goes missing during jog; SUV crashes into building after downtown chase
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Search on for missing jogger, 62
Travis County sheriff's officials continued their search late Saturday night for a man who disappeared in Commons Ford Park.
The man, 62-year-old Richard Gastelum, is a marathon runner who went on a jog to the West Travis County park about 8 p.m. Friday and never returned, said Capt. Art Cardenas of the sheriff's office.
Gastelum is in good shape and does not have any medical conditions that rescuers are concerned about, Cardenas said.
Gastellum is described as a white male who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, gray jacket and black shorts.
posted by WalkSports.com | 1:07 PM
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