This accident was one of 23 rescues carried out in Huesca province between September 6 and 12, during a week marked by falls, fractures, people getting lost and mountaineers becoming stranded. Helicopters, GREIM specialists and 061 medical personnel had to be deployed in numerous operations. All the alerts were received through 112 SOS Aragón and the 062 Command Centre.
THE FIRST RESCUES BETWEEN JACA, ANETO AND PINETA
The series of alerts began on Sunday, September 6. A 47-year-old paraglider from La Jacetania suffered a sprained ankle after hitting the ground in Garcipollera, in Jaca, and was taken to hospital. Hours later, two 20-year-old men from Tarragona were located after getting lost near Aneto and evacuated from the Senarta track.
Monday, September 7, began with the aerial rescue of a 54-year-old hiker who injured an ankle at the Balcón de Pineta. Later, a 62-year-old man had to be assisted on the Escuacho via ferrata due to exhaustion, while a 33-year-old American cyclist was evacuated to Barbastro Hospital after falling on the Gallinero trail and suffering a possible cheekbone fracture.
The day ended at Ibón Bajo de Arriel, where a 25-year-old German hiker fractured his wrist after tripping. The Panticosa GREIM team and a 061 doctor reached him on foot and stayed with him throughout the night. Early the following day, the Huesca Air Unit was able to evacuate the injured man and take him to Jaca Hospital.
FOUR MORE RESCUES IN A SINGLE DAY
Tuesday, September 8, brought four more rescues. Two mountaineers aged 28 and 32 became stranded on the Cuello de Cilindro and were evacuated to Pradera de Pineta. Almost simultaneously, two climbers aged 50 and 61 had to be rescued on the Obarra via ferrata after overestimating their abilities and being unable to continue.
That same day, a 54-year-old mountain athlete fell vertically near Infiernos peak and suffered deep cuts to one leg. He was evacuated by helicopter to Jaca Hospital. In the afternoon, another 66-year-old hiker developed knee pain after falling at Collado de Añisclo and was flown to Pradera de Pineta.
After no interventions were reported on September 9, rescues continued on Thursday, September 10. A 39-year-old mountaineer dislocated a finger on the Salterillo trail while climbing Aneto and was taken to Barbastro. Shortly afterwards, two climbers from Guadalajara became stranded on the Vía del Ibón in Panticosa and were evacuated by helicopter.
RESCUES AT MONTE PERDIDO, CANFRANC AND BALAITOUS
Also on September 10, a 62-year-old French mountaineer became stranded in rugged terrain near Monte Perdido after overestimating his abilities. He was taken to the French Serradets refuge. Later that afternoon, a 36-year-old female hiker fell down a slope on the Carretón trail in Canfranc Estación, fractured her humerus and was taken to Jaca Hospital.
Friday, September 11, began with the rescue of a 21-year-old mountaineer on Balaitous peak who was unable to continue due to a lack of equipment. The most serious operation of the day came later in Santa Eulalia la Mayor, in Loporzano, where a 33-year-old American paraglider fractured his hip and dislocated his shoulder after colliding with a slope. He was evacuated to San Jorge Hospital.
Hours later, a 24-year-old man was evacuated from Collado de Añisclo due to a torn meniscus, while a 50-year-old hiker had to be located in the Barrosa valley after getting lost. Both were able to continue under their own power after being flown to safe areas by mountain rescue teams from the Guardia Civil.
FIVE MORE RESCUES TO CLOSE THE WEEK
Saturday, September 12, continued with a 70-year-old volunteer who suffered fractures to his tibia and fibula after tripping during a high-altitude sporting event near Collarada peak. Later, two 50-year-old mountaineers were evacuated from the same area after one of them suffered dizziness and cramps during the activity.
That same Saturday, a 66-year-old hiker had to be taken to San Jorge Hospital after suffering a gallbladder attack at Mallata Baja de Argualas. The final operation took place at Ibón de Batisielles, where two 25-year-old men from Valencia had become lost after overestimating their abilities. They were located and evacuated to the Estós car park.
