The University of British Columbia has confirmed that a retired geochemistry professor was killed in Chile this week.
A spokesperson for the university confirmed that Peter Winterburn was killed in the South American country. Winterburn was part of the faculty of science at the Vancouver campus.
Local media reported that he was with his wife and daughter in the port city of Valparaiso on Friday afternoon when he was stabbed to death by two people during an attempted robbery.
Global Affairs Canada also confirmed the incident, but did not confirm the victim’s identity due to privacy reasons.
A statement on the website of the 29th International Applied Geochemistry Symposium, set to be held in Chile next year, says Winterburn had recently moved back to Chile after many years away.
“Peter had recently moved back to Chile after many years away and was welcomed back by our local community,” says the statement. “Enthusiastic as he always was, he was happy to join the LOC and Technical Committee.
“We will sincerely miss our friend and our grievance is great; we will always remember his important contribution to the development of our discipline. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
-With files from The Canadian Press.
