A 55-year-old woman, a resident of the province of Barcelona, suffered an ankle injury on Thursday at the Respomuso refuge in Sallent de Gállego. She was evacuated by helicopter to the Hospital de Jaca.
The Aragonese Pyrenees experienced a tragic weekend with two fatalities and numerous rescues, including that of a hiker from the province of Barcelona. The woman, aged 55, sustained an ankle injury on Thursday, July 23, while walking near the Respomuso refuge in Sallent de Gállego and was unable to continue her route.
The alert was received at 9:30 am via 112 SOS Aragón. Specialists from the Greim of Panticosa and the Huesca Air Unit were dispatched to the scene, who evacuated the hiker by helicopter to the helipad in Panticosa. From there, an ambulance transported her to the Hospital de Jaca for medical attention.
This was the first of a series of 18 emergencies attended by the Civil Guard between Thursday, July 23, and Sunday, July 26, in which 37 people were assisted. The incidents included fractures, sprains, wounds, heat strokes, dehydration, exhaustion, people stranded, and a hiker cornered by shepherd dogs.
The operations took place in the municipalities of Benasque, Sallent de Gállego, Panticosa, Canfranc, Bielsa, Bisaurri, Broto, Boltaña, and Torla. Those affected came from various Spanish provinces, including Barcelona, as well as from France.
The most tragic outcome involved two deceased mountaineers. On Saturday, a 63-year-old mountaineer from Burgos was found dead after falling in the area of Pico Estatas and Pico Cregüeña in Benasque. On Sunday, a 63-year-old hiker from Gipuzkoa died after being struck by falling rocks on the Los Cazadores trail in the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park.
Specialists from the Greim of Benasque, Boltaña, Panticosa, and Jaca, the Air Units of Benasque and Huesca, medical personnel from 061, and Civil Guard patrols participated in the operations. All alerts were managed by the 112 SOS Aragón Emergency Room and the 062 Central of the Civil Guard of Huesca.
The hiker from Barcelona was one of the first to be rescued, but not the only one with Catalan ties. On Thursday afternoon, a 65-year-old hiker, a resident of Huesca, suffered a humeral fracture at the Cap de Llauset refuge in Benasque and was evacuated to the Hospital de Barbastro. On Friday, a 44-year-old French mountaineer was injured with a foot fracture and open wounds at the Literola pass, also in Benasque.
Authorities recommend taking extra precautions on mountain routes, especially in steep areas with a risk of landslides. For hikers from the province of Barcelona planning excursions to the Pyrenees, it is essential to be informed about weather conditions, carry the appropriate equipment, and not to overestimate physical capacity.
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