Climber airlifted after serious fall on Calpe’s Peñón de Ifach

A climber suffered an open leg fracture after falling while scaling one of Calpe’s best-known natural landmarks, prompting an emergency helicopter rescue on Sunday, October 11.

The injured person was climbing the imposing Peñón de Ifach when the accident happened, leaving the climber unable to continue without assistance. The severity of his injury and the difficult terrain meant specialist rescuers had to be deployed to reach him.

Emergency rescue launched after 12.35pm

The emergency call was received at approximately 12.35pm, according to reports from the Alicante Provincial Firefighters Consortium.

Firefighters from the Dénia fire station were initially dispatched, with a sergeant leading the team to assess the situation and determine how best to reach the injured climber.

However, the location of the accident on the steep rock face, combined with the seriousness of the man’s open fracture, made a ground-based evacuation impractical.

The response was subsequently escalated, with the consortium’s specialist rescue team and the MV9 rescue helicopter called in to carry out the operation.

The team needed to reach the climber on the mountain, provide assistance and remove them from the exposed location safely.

Helicopter extraction brings operation to an end

Specialist rescuers reached the injured person and carried out the extraction using the helicopter’s winch system.

The aerial operation enabled the team to lift the climber from the difficult-to-access section of the rock face, avoiding the need to move him down the steep terrain on foot.

Following the rescue, the climber was transferred to medical services for further treatment. Details of his identity, age and the hospital to which he was taken were not immediately reported.

The emergency operation was completed shortly before 2pm, around an hour and a half after the initial alert was received.

The coordinated response involved firefighters based in Dénia, the specialist rescue group and the MV9 helicopter, highlighting the importance of aerial assistance when accidents occur in inaccessible mountain locations.

Peñón de Ifach poses challenges for rescuers

The Peñón de Ifach is one of the most recognisable natural landmarks on the Costa Blanca, rising dramatically above the Mediterranean in Calpe.

The limestone outcrop forms part of the Peñón de Ifach Natural Park and attracts walkers, climbers and visitors drawn to its distinctive profile and views across the coastline.

Although the landmark is a popular destination for outdoor activities, its steep rock faces and exposed climbing routes can make accidents particularly difficult to manage.

When someone is seriously injured high on the mountain, emergency crews may have limited options for reaching them and transporting them to safety.

Helicopters equipped for rescue operations can provide a crucial alternative, allowing specialist teams to access difficult terrain and evacuate casualties who cannot safely make their own way down.

Sunday’s incident ended with the climber removed from the rock face and transferred for medical care, bringing the emergency response to a close shortly before 2pm.