A major search is continuing by Spanish emergency services in Majorca to find a 32-year-old British hiker who was swept away while trying to save his girlfriend during a storm
A missing Brit is believed to have been swept away in a deluge of water as he tried to save his girlfriend during a fierce storm as they hiked in a group in Majorca.
Spanish emergency services are continuing the desperate search for the 32-year-old man while the body of the woman, aged 26, was discovered on Wednesday.
They were part of a large group of tourists who were caught in a flood on Tuesday while they trekked in Torrent de Pareis, a walk that follows a deep canyon that is about five kilometres long and ends in the bay of Sa Calobra.
Rescue teams have said that ill-prepared tourists can often be caught out by sudden flash flooding and other hikers in the party who were rescued by Guardia Civil have reportedly said that the woman was swept away followed by the man who tried to help her.
“The British man and woman were a couple. They were here on holiday and staying locally on the island. They also have family here with them and we are helping as best we can,” said an official. Diving specialists are part of the search team and a helicopter is also being used to try and locate the missing man.
Paco Molina, a Guardia Civil spokesman, said: “We are examining caves to rule out possibilities,” but he warned that the “canyon still is underwater and it will be necessary for the level to drop in some areas to continue the search.” He added that they had not given up hope of finding the man: “The helicopter is helping is search a wider area, we have not lost hope but unfortunately it is a very complicated situation.”
One of the firemen involved said that it is very difficult to see because the water “is very dirty”. Emergency services did manage to evacuate 10 people including relatives of the couple and it is reported that the group were not wearing suitable clothing including rain jackets. One member of the party was taken to a hospital in Palma.
Weather warnings had been place and there was severe flooding in other parts of Majorca. Spanish police yesterday said: “The Civil Guard yesterday rescued 10 people who were trapped in the Torrent de Pareis by a torrent of water. Our Greim unit established an operation throughout the day there to prevent possible accidents involving hikers who were in the area given the forecast of heavy rain.
“Given the experiences of previous years, when many visitors ignore weather conditions and end up getting trapped by high water, the decision was taken to establish precautionary measures. Thanks to this operation, and with the help of a Civil Guard helicopter, officers were able to save the lives of 10 people who were trapped, without protective clothing, and completely soaked. They were transferred to safety using guides to assist them.
“Once they reached a safe spot the rescued walkers, two Spaniards and the rest French, German and British, told us two members of a group of five who were among those assisted had been swept away by a torrent of water and they had been unable to do anything to save them and didn’t know where they were. A separate search and rescue operation was mobilised until nightfall which began again today with assistance from firefighters. That operation had so far led to the discovery of the body which could be that of a 32-year-old British man. The operation for a woman of the same nationality is continuing.”