One of the two drivers of the ill fated Besa bus was Ljupco Zafirov. His friend, Igor Smilev from the Green Power mountain climbing group, said that Zafirov was a great friend of the group who frequently helped them organize mountain tours.

Ljupco was a tortured soul, with a heart as big as a mountain. He had a difficult divorce, his wife took everything, and he had to start from zero. The mountain society lost a great friend and a top professional, Smilev said.