British hiker dies on Marbella’s La Concha mountain

A BRITISH hiker who was trying to reach the top of Marbella’s (Spain) La Concha mountain has been found dead, apparently choked by his own backpack straps.

Local reports say the man, who has not been named, appeared to have become lost during the three-hour trek. He is said to have alerted his family in the UK by WhatsApp to say he was lost. They contacted British police and the UK consul in Spain passed on the message to Spanish police.

A search and rescue mission was launched at about 4pm on Saturday (August 10) by a unit of the Guardia Civil’s mountain rescue division with helicopter help. But by the time darkness fell they had not found the man and had to call off the search until Sunday morning.

His lifeless body was found around 9am in steep terrain. Rescuers say he would appear to have fallen in steep terrain and his backpack got hooked up, leaving him hanging. Although not confirmed, they say he appeared to have been choked by the straps. A post mortem examination will be carried out.

The search and rescue mission was complicated by the fact Guardia Civil had to carry out two other rescues in the area on Saturday.

The helicopter search for the Briton had to be interrupted when three French hikers had to be airlifted off the mountain and taken to Istan where medical services were waiting to give them a check-up. One had suffered heatstroke, but no one needed hospital treatment.

Once this rescue was completed, the search for the British hiker continued. At the same time, the Guardia Civil received a third call out. Two girls had got lost in Tolox and had called for help. They were found by Coin firemen acting under the instructions of the mountain rescue team.