A 55 year old man suffered a serious fall while canyoning in the municipal area of Altea, a seaside town in the Community of Valencia. The incident occurred on a Saturday, just before 11:30 in the morning, when he unexpectedly lost footing and dropped from an approximate height of 20 meters. Rescuers arrived on the scene quickly, responding to reports from local authorities and eyewitnesses about the dangerous terrain and the need for urgent medical care.
Firefighters and rescue teams from the Alicante Provincial Firefighters Consortium coordinated a careful search and stabilization operation. Upon locating the injured man, responders provided on-site first aid to manage immediate needs and to stabilize potential injuries before transport. The medical team worked in tandem with the rescue crews, ensuring that airway, breathing, and circulation were maintained while assessing the extent of multiple potential injuries. The scene required meticulous access planning due to the rugged canyon environment and the risk of further trauma during extraction.
As part of the coordinated response, an Alpha rescue helicopter and Mountain Rescue Group units were deployed to assist with air evacuation. After securing the patient and confirming medical stability, the helicopter lifted him from the incident site and transported him to a designated helipad in nearby La Vila Joiosa. There, the patient was handed over to the Medical Care Service team and prepared for transfer to a hospital through the Emergency Medical Care Service ambulance network. The operation highlighted the critical role of rapid, multi-agency collaboration in mountain and canyon rescue scenarios.
The incident concluded around 1:25 PM, with the man in the care of the SAMU ambulance team for ongoing treatment and monitoring. The rapid involvement of firefighters, air rescue units, and medical personnel exemplifies the comprehensive approach needed when fall-related injuries involve polytrauma risk. The coordinated response aimed to stabilize the patient, minimize secondary injuries, and ensure a swift transition to advanced medical facilities for definitive care. Provincial Firefighters Consortium and local emergency services, who monitored the situation and provided updates as the operation progressed.