A man lost his life when a stone toppled onto him on a beach in Alojera this Tuesday, according to sources from 112 Canarias in Vallehermoso, La Gomera. The incident stunned local residents and prompted emergency responders to deploy resources immediately, underscoring the sudden danger that coastal areas can present even during seemingly calm days. In the hours that followed, a 30-year-old woman sustained moderate trauma to one leg and was transported to a hospital by ambulance for evaluation and treatment. The destination was Our Lady of Guadalupe Hospital, where medical teams prepared to assess and stabilize her condition and prevent any complications from the injuries.
The 112 emergency number was activated at 4:16 p.m., with dispatch confirming two victims of the rockfall on the beach. The incident occurred in a zone where rapid land access to emergency services is challenging, prompting the rapid involvement of air support. From the outset, the Canary Islands Government’s Emergency and Rescue Group, known as GES, dispatched a helicopter to assist with the operation. This high-altitude intervention was essential to reach the affected area quickly and to ferry those injured to safety, especially given the rugged terrain and limited ground routes.
The man’s injuries were judged incompatible with life at the scene, leading the Civil Guard to take charge of the ensuing investigation and determine any applicable legal steps. As the situation developed, responders worked to maintain a coordinated effort among different agencies to manage the rescue efficiently and to ensure every safety protocol was followed during the extraction.
The woman who survived the fall was rescued by the GES helicopter and then transferred to a designated landing zone. The operation benefited from the combined efforts of the helicopter crew, forest and civil protection personnel, and the Civil Guard, all collaborating to secure a safe transfer amid challenging conditions. Once the aircraft touched down in a safe area, ground crews prepared the patient for handoff, ensuring a smooth transition from air to land emergency services while maintaining continuous medical oversight.
Meanwhile, the Canary Emergency Service ambulance team arrived to provide continuous medical care and support. They assisted with the handover to hospital staff and ensured the patient received timely treatment upon arrival. This coordinated response illustrates how multiple emergency services work in tandem to manage severe incidents along coastal zones, where geography can complicate both access and speed of response. In incidents like this, the use of air-based rescue resources often proves decisive in stabilizing victims and expediting their transport to appropriate care, reducing the risk of further complications as medical teams assess injuries and determine the best course of action for each patient.