Two more rescues were carried out by the Guardia Civil mountain rescue teams last weekend and again, one was in the Junta de Los Ríos.

The two call outs over the weekend were for a 43-year old hiker in the Río Verde waterfalls (La Junta de Los Ríos) and for a 61-year old hiker on the Loma Papeles (Güejar Sierra). There was actually a third one, which we also cover below.

The first took place on the Saturday the 19th when the mountain-rescue unit GREIM received a call out at 13.05h from the Emergency Coordination Centre, 112: a man had taken a fall in the waterfalls area of Otívar, damaging his shoulder and well as fracturing his left ankle. He was unable to walk and thus required assistance.

He was winched to safety onboard the Guardia Civil rescue helicopter and flown to Hospital PTS in Granada.

Whilst the helicopter was on its way to Otívar, the pilot received another call out for a woman who showed signs of the onset of heat stroke and was tired. She was not far from the where the helicopter was so it was a quick stop. As she could be treated on the spot, she didn’t require being flown anywhere.

The next rescue mission (mentioned at the beginning) was on Sunday the 20th with a call out around 16.20h. The woman in her early 60s had twisted her ankle whilst hiking on the Lavaderos de la Reina, in the Loma Papeles area (Güejar Sierra).

Obviously, she was unable to walk further so the rescue helicopter was sent again. They landed nearby, immobilised her ankle and flew her to the PTS in Granada.

Editorial comment: using a helicopter is expediente, especially when somebody is seriously injured and requires immediate medical attention, but for a twisted ankle or a damaged shoulder, couldn’t a patrol vehicle be used? OK, in the Junta de Los Ríos access is difficult but depending where the slightly injured person is, a stretcher team can reach them with the patrol car parked at the entrance.

What I am saying is that a climber trapped on an ice face on the Sierra Nevada or somebody with a back or head injury somewhere along the waterfalls, yes, get the whirly bird out, but where there is no urgency and foot access is possible…

I’m not criticising the excellent work carried out throughout the year (year in, year out) I’m just saying that people with non-critical injuries like the victim on a hiking route in the summer, might not require a helicopter.

(News: Otivar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Guardia Civil, Mountain Rescue, GREIM, Junta de Los Ríos, Waterfalls, Rescue Helicopter, Winch, Twist Ankle, Fractured Ankle, Shoulder, Heat Stroke, Sierra Nevada

news, andalucia, granada, costa tropical, otivar, guardia civil, mountain rescue, GREIM, junta de los ríos, waterfalls, rescue helicopter, winch, twist ankle, fractured ankle, shoulder, heat stroke, sierra nevada

Reader’s comment: “Tut tut, with you being ex forces , with I assume some medical knowledge. Should know better. That twisted ankle could also have been a fracture. That shoulder could have come about , due to a temporary loss of consciousness. Underlying medical history etc. Anyway it gives the flight crew more experiences” – Patrick Barry Storey