Hiker airlifted after 45-metre plunge near Caminito del Rey north entrance

Friends of an injured walker raised the alarm just before 2pm on Thursday after he fell around 45 metres near the north access to Caminito del Rey in Ardales, Malaga. Andalusia’s 112 emergency centre coordinated a multi-agency response that ended with a helicopter evacuation to hospital.

Companions called for help at 1.54pm after the fall in rough ground close to the popular gorge walkway. Firefighters from Malaga’s provincial consortium, Local Police, Guardia Civil mountain rescue and 061 medical crews all headed to the scene. Rescuers reached the hiker, brought him out of the drop zone and transferred him by air.

What happened at the north access

The village of Ardales is at the northern end of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, where the official Caminito trail begins. That side of the gorge is steep and broken, with drops that are easy to underestimate if you leave the marked path. A 45-metre fall is a serious drop even if someone survives the landing; getting a casualty out on foot from that kind of ground is slow and risky, which is why crews called in the helicopter.

Exact injuries have not been released. Officials confirmed only that emergency teams completed the rescue and flew the walker to a hospital. That is standard wording from 112 until medics finish their assessment.

Why this stretch keeps drawing rescue teams

Caminito del Rey itself was rebuilt and reopened in 2015 after years as one of Spain’s most feared walkways. Handrails, new boards and visitor limits made the official route far safer. Ground around the north entrance is another matter. Access tracks, viewpoints and unofficial shortcuts still sit above cliffs and gullies. Similar airlifts have happened before, including a 20-metre fall near the entrance in July 2024 that also needed Guardia Civil mountain specialists and a helicopter. Euro Weekly News covered that rescue here.

Visitor numbers have stayed high. A new 110-metre hanging bridge opened this year at the other end of the trail, adding another talking point for people planning the walk. EWN reported the bridge opening. Managers also launched a WhatsApp channel so walkers get closure and weather alerts on their phones. Details of that service are here.

None of that changes the geology. Limestone walls, loose stone and sudden drops mean a slip off-piste can turn into a full-scale rescue in minutes. Mountain teams from Alora and helicopter units based in Granada are used to this corner of Malaga province. Another recent airlift from Pico Jabalcuza showed how quickly GREIM and air crews move when someone cannot walk out.

Advice if you are heading to the gorge

Stick to the official boards and booked time slots. Tickets sell out, so last-minute changes of plan often push people onto unofficial paths. Wear proper footwear, carry water and keep phones charged; signal can be patchy in the gorge. If someone falls, stay put if it is safe, mark the spot and call 112 rather than trying a DIY extraction down a 45-metre face. Yes, it is a tourist destination, but this is not like visiting Disneyland. There are dangers.

Thursday’s job was another reminder that the scenery that pulls hundreds of thousands of walkers a year is the same scenery that can put someone on a stretcher and into a helicopter before the afternoon is out. Rescue crews did their bit. Anyone planning the north access this weekend would do well to treat the edges with a bit of respect.