Pregnant Central Coast teacher dies after fall while hiking in Greece

A Central Coast high school is mourning the loss of a science teacher who died from the severe injuries she suffered in a fall while hiking in Greece.

Goleta science teacher Clara Thomann, who was six months pregnant at the time of her death, fell while hiking near Plakias, Crete, in Greece on Dec. 23, according to her family and news reports.

Construction workers and emergency responders helped evacuate Thomann to a hospital in Rethymno, and she was later taken to Chania General Hospital, according to a post from her family on the CaringBridge website.

“There are no words to describe the sadness we are all feeling,” Dos Pueblos High School Principal Bill Woodard said. “Ms. Thomann was so kind and such a great teacher who loved her students and loved science. Our hearts break for her family and for all of us who are feeling this loss.”

Woodard added that counseling was available for students struggling with the news.

“We understand that this news brings pain and shock, especially to those who had the privilege of knowing Ms. Thomann, which is why we are committed to supporting our students and families,” Woodard said.

The Greek Reporter reported that Thomann fell 50 meters, or 164 feet, and that rescue crews worked for four hours to rescue Thomann from an area difficult to access. She lost her baby, named Theodoro Thomann, after her fall and suffered multiple fractures, including major injuries to her skull and chest, according to her family.

She was declared brain dead after several days in the hospital, according to local news reports.

“Clara loved helping and teaching others,” her family wrote. “Naturally, she is an organ donor, and we are happy to report that her heart, liver and pancreas have already been accepted for donation.”

Her family wrote that Thomann loved to gather with family to celebrate the big and small moments in life.

“She was always there for her family and friends and would want us all to make excuses to gather, hold each other tight and celebrate,” her family wrote.

Her family added that Thomann and her baby were transported to Athens for cremation, which was complete on Friday, and that they will be spreading some of their ashes in Greece and Turkey before returning home.

The family will be using the CaringBridge page to share updates and plans for a service.

“Right now, the best way to help is to continue to keep us all in your thoughts and to use this platform to share stories about Clarita,” her family wrote. “Those stories and memories will lift all of us up — those of us who are here as well as everyone else who was touched by Clarita’s light.”

This story was originally published January 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Pregnant Central Coast teacher dies after fall while hiking in Greece."