The Guardia Civil located the body of a local police officer from Xixona in Alicante yesterday morning, Wednesday 28th October, at approximately 11.15. The officer had gone missing while hiking in the Mount Ponoig area of Polop and is believed to have suffered a fall down a slope.
The aerial unit of the armed forces in Valencia found the lifeless body, which will need to be retrieved by specialised teams. According to sources from the Guardia Civil, the exact circumstances and the time of death remain unknown at this stage.
The Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium stated that the 45-year-old hiker’s body was discovered near the peak of Mount Ponoig in a passage presenting a certain level of difficulty, noting that it appears he may have fallen and suffered fatal injuries.
The Town Council of Xixona confirmed the disappearance on social media after the municipal officer left home on Tuesday to go hiking, likely in the area of Polop within the Marina Baixa region, where his vehicle was subsequently found by authorities.
In response to the disappearance, the Guardia Civil launched a wide-ranging search operation utilising aerial and ground resources. Units from the National Police, local police forces from several municipalities, and firefighters joined this effort.