Mountain ridge tragedy
Increase in outdoor activities leads to rise in accidents and rescues
Fire service reports seven different rescue operations over Easter weekend to help stricken walkers and climbers
THE PROVINCIAL fire service reported that they carried out seven different rescue operations over the bank holiday weekend to help stricken walkers and climbers.
In one of the incidents a Russian woman, reported to be in her 40s, died at the Caballo Verde ridge in the Vall de Laguart in the north of Alicante province last Friday. According to state news agency EFE, a rock gave way under her feet as she and a walking partner were crossing a section of the mountain where there is a fixed chain to hold onto.
EFE reported that both the woman and a man plunged down the mountainside.
She fell headfirst and suffered fatal injuries, while her walking partner suffered severe injuries and was taken to hospital. The fire brigade reported that the incident occurred at around 15.00.
A helicopter was used to reach the isolated spot and a rescue team was sent from San Vicente station, along with reinforcements from Denia and Ibi. A fire service spokesman expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
On the same day a fire service helicopter was called out to help in the rescue of a climber who had suffered a fall of around 10 metres at the Peñón de Ifach in Calpe.
EFE reported that the man was on the ‘vía de la botella’ section of the ascent when the accident occurred at around 13.15. The climber was airlifted from the rock and taken to San Vicente station, where he was transferred to an ambulance and driven to hospital for treatment. Although the extent of his injuries was not reported, the fire brigade wished him a ‘speedy recovery’ via their Twitter account.
The provincial service also reported that they were called out to three rescues on Saturday – one of a woman who was ‘walking in the Vall de la Gallinera’, who had suffered a fall.
The others were in Torremanzanas and at Maigmo mountain – but no details were given of these interventions.
On Monday the fire brigade helicopter was called on to carry out the rescue of two climbers who had got into trouble at Callosa de Segura’s mountain. A fire fighter was winched down to pick up the stricken adventurers who had become trapped on the climbing wall at the Cueva Ahumada area. They were rescued unharmed during the afternoon.
The same operation had to be performed the same day at Elche reservoir, where a woman had fallen and suffered a suspected broken leg.
She was collected by a fire fighter who was winched down from the helicopter, and taken to hospital for treatment.