Young man seriously injured after firework explodes during Gata de Gorgos correfoc

A 27-year-old man was seriously injured during a correfoc in Gata de Gorgos after a firework went wrong during the traditional fire-filled spectacle.

The incident happened on Saturday September 26 night during the town’s Sant Miquel fiestas, with the young man reportedly injured towards the end of the correfoc.

The 27-year-old, who is from El Campello, was hit in the chest after a firework malfunctioned during the event.

Emergency services attend

The incident sparked an immediate response from emergency services at the scene.

Local Police, Civil Protection and the Red Cross attended to the injured man before he was taken to hospital.

He was initially transferred to Dénia Hospital for treatment. However, due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was later moved to Hospital General de Alicante.

Reports said the firework exploded close to his chest, causing an injury around his sternum.

The exact circumstances surrounding the accident have not yet been established.

Man undergoes surgery

The injured man underwent surgery in Alicante on Sunday following the accident.

Gata de Gorgos councillor for Citizen Security, Joanvi Vallés, said the latest information available to the council indicated that the man was doing well despite the seriousness of his injuries.

The town hall continues to monitor his condition while awaiting further information about his recovery.

Investigation into accident

An investigation has been launched to establish exactly what happened during the correfoc.

Gata de Gorgos Town Hall has made the relevant documentation available to the Guardia Civil and other authorities involved in investigating the incident.

Officials are looking into how the firework malfunctioned and the circumstances that led to the young man being injured.

Early reports have referred to a possible problem with the mechanism used during the display, but this has not been confirmed as the cause of the accident.

Fire-filled Sant Miquel tradition

The accident happened during one of the main events of Gata de Gorgos’ Sant Miquel fiestas.

The correfoc, performed by the Dimonis d’Aielo de Malferit, began at around 11pm and followed a route from the Grupo Escolar to Plaça Nova.

The traditional event sees performers dressed as devils take to the streets with fireworks and fire as crowds watch from along the route.

Correfocs are a long-standing tradition in parts of Spain, particularly in the Valencia region and Catalonia, and are a popular feature of local fiestas.

Gata de Gorgos’ Sant Miquel celebrations were due to continue until Tuesday, September 29.

Authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances of the accident while the town awaits further news on the injured man’s recovery.