Woman rescued by helicopter after becoming unwell on dramatic Costa Blanca cliff route

A coastal hike in the Marina Alta ended in a major scare on Sunday September 6 after a woman became severely dizzy while walking along the exposed Llebeig cliff route.

Emergency call from Llebeig cliffs

Emergency services were alerted at around 12.44pm after the woman became unwell while hiking in the upper section of the Llebeig cliffs, close to the route linking the Cala Moraig area with the Portet.

The remote and rugged location made a conventional evacuation difficult. The woman was suffering from intense dizziness and was unable to continue walking independently, prompting the need for a specialist rescue operation.

The route is known for its spectacular coastal scenery, but its steep terrain and exposed sections can make an incident particularly challenging for rescuers.

Rescue helicopter already operating nearby

Fortunately, help was close at hand.

A rescue helicopter operated by the Provincial Consortium of Alicante Firefighters, together with members of the specialist Grupo Especial de Rescate (GER), was already carrying out manoeuvres in the area when the emergency was reported.

That coincidence allowed the team to respond rapidly.

The helicopter located the affected hiker from the air before the rescue team carried out the extraction from the difficult-to-access section of the trail.

The entire intervention was completed within around half an hour of the initial emergency call.

Woman taken to Dénia

At approximately 1.18pm, the helicopter transported the woman to the helipad at the regional fire station in Dénia.

She was subsequently assessed following the incident.

Despite the frightening circumstances and the need for an aerial evacuation from the cliffs, the woman was not reported to have suffered serious injuries or other significant physical harm.

The incident highlights the difficulties emergency teams can face when hikers become unwell on some of the Marina Alta’s most rugged coastal paths.

For walkers tackling routes such as Llebeig, the combination of steep terrain, heat and exposure can quickly turn a straightforward hike into an emergency.

The rapid intervention on Sunday ensured that the woman was safely removed from the cliffside and taken to a location where she could be properly assessed.

The rescue also serves as a reminder for anyone exploring the Costa Blanca’s spectacular coastal trails to prepare carefully, particularly during warmer weather, and to seek help immediately if they become too unwell to continue.