British teenager dies in mountain accident in Spain
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 @ 4:21 PM
The 17 year-old from Lincolnshire plummeted nearly 3,300 feet (1,000 metres) into a steep gorge after he slipped from a mountain path at a popular beauty spot. He was camping with a group of seven other British youngsters accompanied by several adult supervisors in the mountainous nature reserve. The group had set up camp next to a mountain refuge at the picturesque Collado Jermoso and had just finished an evening meal when the accident happened last Thursday evening. It is thought Mr Lucas tripped and fell after wandering away from his companions to photograph the sunset from a vantage point more than 6,000 feet (1820 metres) above sea level.
His friends heard his fall and rushed to the mountain refuge to get help but he was already dead by the time a rescue team reached him. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Leon, where the body was taken awaiting repatriation on Wednesday, said: “It was a tragic accident. The boy separated from his group and it seems he lost his footing as he admired the sun setting over the mountains.” Mountain rescue teams are frequently called to the area which is marked by high peaks, steep ravines and often narrow rocky paths.
”Unfortunately such accidents are quite common in this area,” said the Civil Guard. “It has beautiful scenery but the terrain can be treacherous especially in bad weather which can come in very quickly even in summer.”
A worker at the refuge, who asked not to be named, added: “Several members of the group came running to ask for help.
”They were obviously very traumatised.
”They were camping next to the refuge because we were full at the time.
”As far as I know they were hillwalking in the area and had trekked from the nearest village four hours away the day of the tragedy before setting up camp.
”They had just finished dinner when it happened and were admiring the sunset.”
Source: Telegraph.co.uk