A 30-year-old foreign national sustained critical injuries after leaping into the sea from a height of about five meters and striking rocks along the Cala Salada shoreline in the Ibiza municipality. The incident occurred near San Antonio, Ibiza. Emergency responders were notified by the beach lifeguard shortly after the fall, with the call coming in around 3:55 p.m. and a rapid dispatch set in motion to manage a high-severity trauma case. The situation required immediate on-site stabilization and swift coordination among multiple rescue assets to maximize survival chances, given the potential for spinal injury and significant trauma.
Upon receiving the alert, rescue teams moved quickly to access the victim on the rocky coast. The patient was located, retrieved, and initially stabilized aboard a rescue boat before being splinted to limit movement of any suspected spinal injury. This initial stabilization work is crucial when trauma involves potential damage to the spinal column, as even minor movements can exacerbate life-threatening conditions. The rescue operation demonstrated effective collaboration between lifeguards, maritime rescue personnel, and ground-based responders to secure the individual from the hazardous shoreline environment.
Two advanced and basic life support ambulances were integral to the response. An advanced life support unit from Sant Antoni, equipped to perform critical interventions, arrived alongside a newly deployed basic life support ambulance based in Sant Agustí. The latter had just entered service only a few days earlier, underscoring the ongoing enhancements in the region’s emergency medical capacity. These vehicles provided rapid centralization of care, ensuring the patient could receive advanced stabilization while en route to definitive treatment facilities.
The individual presented with multiple traumatic injuries and a suspected spinal cord injury, characteristics that necessitate careful airway management, circulation support, and immobilization. The medical team proceeded with protocols designed to preserve neurological function and maintain stability during transport. The patient was subsequently transported to Policlínica Nuestra Señora del Rosario, where medical staff continued comprehensive monitoring and treatment under a critical prognosis. The sequence of events highlights the importance of swift, coordinated action in remote coastal settings where access to care can require multiple support layers and seamless interagency communication.
Rescuers and clinicians emphasized ongoing assessment, documentation, and communication with family or guardians as appropriate, given the severity of the injuries and the need for continuous evaluation throughout the patient’s hospital course. The incident also stresses the value of well-equipped local facilities, rapid response times, and the readiness of newly established emergency units to support communities facing high-risk maritime environments. This case demonstrates how immediate on-scene care, rapid transport, and the availability of advanced medical resources come together to influence outcomes in traumatic injuries sustained by fall-related incidents along the coast. The incident is recorded in local emergency service reports with attribution to the responding teams and coordinating agencies involved in the response. Source: SAMU 061.