Emergency services rescue injured paraglider trapped in Murcia mountains

Murcia emergency services leapt into action on Saturday, September 12, after a 58-year-old paraglider was injured and stranded in a difficult-to-access area of the Sierra del Buey, a mountain range located between the municipalities of Jumilla and Yecla.

An injured paraglider calls for help in the Murcian mountains

The man was unable to move on his own and was trapped in an area in the Jumilla mountains. The Emergency Coordination Centre of the Region of Murcia received a call from the man himself about the incident at 2:33pm. The athlete explained to them that he had suffered an accident while paragliding and was unable to move on his own due to his condition.

Drone deployed after mountain crash

The paraglider was able to send his location to a friend, but when emergency services tried to obtain his location, he could not provide it again as he was in too much pain. As emergency services could not determine the exact location of the accident, the Jumilla Local Police deployed a drone to search for the injured paraglider.

Off-road vehicles navigate difficult terrain to reach the injured athlete

Emergency responders, including the Guardia Civil, local police, and paramedics from the 061 emergency service were dispatched to the scene. A Guardia Civil patrol was the first emergency resource to locate the man and successfully reach him. The man’s condition was assessed, and the teams determined that an aerial rescue was not necessary.

Paraglider treated on site and taken to hospital

After locating the man, the next most significant challenge for emergency responders was getting medical staff to the difficult-to-access location. The 061 emergency medical team was transported in one of the local police’s off-road vehicles. Once they finally reached him, paramedics treated him on the scene. He was then moved to the local police’s SUV, where he was transferred with the paramedics to a point where he could be transferred to an ambulance.

The man was stabilised and evacuated to the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital in Murcia to receive medical care.

Emergency services’ quick thinking: Paragliders and athletes in the mountains beware

Thanks to the quick actions of the emergency services, the man was swiftly located and transferred to a hospital where medical staff could treat his injuries. It is just one of the instances where Murcia authorities have responded quickly to a distress call, rescuing an athlete who otherwise could not have got to hospital safely.

Emergency services have also taken a moment to remind paragliders and those who practice other sports in the mountainous areas of Murcia of the importance of planning their trips in advance, checking the weather, carrying a mobile phone with sufficient battery life on them, informing loved ones of their whereabouts, and staying well fed and hydrated for their activity.