Firefighters rescue children and adults in four mountain operations across Alicante

The Provincial Fire Consortium of Alicante carried out four rescue operations on Sunday, November 1st, across various locations in the province, bringing seven people to safety, including two children aged eight and ten. The interventions took place during the late afternoon and at nightfall in Elda, Benidorm, Polop de la Marina, and Dénia after several hikers became trapped in steep areas or lost their return path. None of the rescued individuals suffered injuries.

One of the most delicate situations occurred on Mount Bolón in Elda, where a ten-year-old boy became blocked in an area of difficult access while walking with his parents. The alert was received at 18.15 hours, when the approach of night prevented the use of the rescue helicopter. Given this circumstance, a crew from the Elda fire station travelled to the location and managed to reach the minor’s position on foot. Personnel helped him descend through the steep terrain until reaching a safe zone, from where he was able to begin his return home with his family. The intervention finished at 19.54 hours.

Another rescue affected a woman and her eight-year-old son who had become lost while walking through Sierra Helada in Benidorm. Both were in a mountainous area without vehicle access and were beginning to feel cold, with the added concern that night was about to fall. The alert occurred at 18.00 hours, and the Consortium mobilised the Rescue Group and the MV9R helicopter, which managed to locate the mother and the minor. Due to the helicopter’s operational limitations at those hours, both were transferred to the San Vicente del Raspeig fire station. The operation concluded at 18.41 hours, without requiring assistance for injuries.

The third intervention took place in Polop de la Marina, where two hikers of Dutch nationality became trapped on a cliff in the Penyó Cavall area, next to the Coveta de la Mascarada, during a route through Sanxet. The hikers had started their march at 11.00 hours and, after walking for several hours, lost their orientation. At 17.36 hours, they contacted the 112 emergency service to request help. Firefighters managed to communicate with them in English and verified that they were stranded at a point from which they could not continue. They had water, but carried no food. The Rescue Group attended with the MV9R helicopter, located the two hikers and managed to evacuate them to the helisurface of the Benidorm fire station. The action ended at 18.31 hours and both turned out unhurt.

The final operation unfolded in the surroundings of Montgó in Dénia, where another two hikers requested help after spending several hours on the mountain without managing to find the way back. The excursionists had left Dénia at 10.00 hours with water, but without provisions. At 19.00 hours, facing the impossibility of orienting themselves and returning by their own means, they alerted 112. On this occasion, the rescue was carried out by land with personnel from the Dénia fire station. Through the Control 3 coordination centre, the location of the two stray people was provided, allowing firefighters to travel on foot until finding them. The intervention concluded at 20.00 hours, without any injuries being recorded.

The four actions concentrated between 17.36 and 20.00 hours, coinciding with the last hours of daylight and the beginning of the night. In two of the rescues, the intervention of the Consortium helicopter was necessary, while the Elda and Dénia operations were resolved through the terrestrial displacement of firefighters.