Early yesterday afternoon, five people lost their lives after a wooden walkway collapsed in El Bocal, Santander, along a well-known coastal path.

The structure gave way at 16:30h while a group of seven young people was walking across it. All of them reportedly fell into the water and rocks below. One person has been rescued alive; of the other six, five have died and one remains missing.

The 112 Emergency Call Centre received the alert around 16:45h from cyclists and mobilised a massive response team including Santander Fire Department, Salvamento Marítimo, the regional-government helicopter, Policía Local & Nacional, the Guardia Civil and 061 ambulances.

Drones were also being used to search for the missing person. A rough total of 70 personnel are involved.

The Mayor of Santander, Gema Igual, appeared before the press later that afternoon explaining that the survivor is suffering from hypothermia and was the person who confirmed there were seven people in the group. The walkway spans a cliff over a small stream that flows into the sea.

Maritime Rescue assets (five launches and a helicopter) were out in the rough sea searching for the missing person before nightfall came in.

(News: Santander, Cantabria – Photo: Juanjo Santamaría)

Keywords: Fatal Walkway Collapse, see, El Bocal, Seven Hikers, Massive Search

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