A British woman has tragically lost her life after falling 500 feet while rock climbing with a friend at a popular spot in Malaga.
The incident took place on the Caminito del Rey pathway, a notorious climbing route close to the village of El Chorro.
Emergency services responded quickly after receiving the alarm just after 7 pm on Friday evening.
Friend Survives by Clinging to a Rock
While the woman fell to her death, her male companion managed to survive by grabbing onto a bush-covered rock that jutted out as he fell.
Despite the terrifying fall, he was able to hold on and avoid plunging further.
He was rescued in a state of shock. Both climbers were in the Swiss Sector of the climbing area, which is adjacent to a hiking trail known as the Arabic Staircase, when the accident occurred.
The Accident While Descending
It’s believed that the two climbers had been practicing sport climbing throughout the day and that the fall happened during their descent.
The pair likely took a wrong turn, leading them down an incorrect route, which caused them to lose their balance.
The survivor, who is being investigated by the Civil Guard, told authorities that he fell over the side of a ravine and tried to hold onto whatever he could.
Investigations and Earlier Incident
The Civil Guard, who is handling the case, has yet to release an official statement about the cause of the fall.
However, this incident marks the second fatal fall in the region involving a British climber in less than a month.
On December 11, another British climber fell while traversing a via ferrata near the El Chorro area, resulting in serious injury and, ultimately, death.
Previous Fatal Fall in December
In the December incident, a 20-year-old man fell while crossing an area known as Puente del Mono, or Monkey Bridge.
The young climber was knocked unconscious and went into cardiac arrest shortly before emergency services arrived.
Despite efforts from the Guardia Civil’s Greim mountain rescue team, who rushed to the scene via helicopter, they were unable to save him.
CPR was performed, but he was later confirmed dead after being evacuated by helicopter to a nearby medical facility.
The recent tragic falls have highlighted the risks involved in climbing in the El Chorro region, an area known for its rugged terrain and popular climbing routes.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn