Published 02 September 2026 | Community

TL;DR: A multi-agency rescue in the Sierra de Laujar took more than four hours after a hiker was injured near the Nacimiento Recreation Area, with teams carrying the stretcher for four kilometres before reaching an ambulance access point.

Difficult rescue in Sierra de Laujar

A demanding mountain evacuation

Emergency teams carried out a difficult rescue in the municipality of Laujar de Andarax after a hiker was injured near the Nacimiento Recreation Area. The operation took more than four hours and required rescuers to move much of the way on foot through terrain that prevented emergency vehicles from reaching the casualty.

The teams eventually carried the stretcher manually for around four kilometres. Their route led from the accident area to a point where an ambulance could get close enough to continue the evacuation. The injured hiker was then taken by the medical team to a hospital for further care.

The incident took place in the Hidroelectrica de Laujar area, within the Sierra de Laujar. The landscape around the recreation area made access particularly challenging, turning what might otherwise have been a straightforward transfer into a lengthy mountain operation.

Services involved

The response brought together several emergency and public safety services. Members of the Consorcio de Bomberos del Poniente Almeriense, Guardia Civil, Plan Infoca, environmental agents, Proteccion Civil de Laujar de Andarax and healthcare staff all took part.

Emergencias 112 Andalucia coordinated the wider operation. Once the hiker had been located, the teams worked together to begin the evacuation and move the stretcher across the most difficult section of the route.

The rescue shows how a mountain incident can require support from services with different roles. Firefighters and other rescue personnel dealt with the physical evacuation, while the Guardia Civil, environmental agents, local Civil Protection volunteers and medical staff contributed to the wider response.

Vehicles could not reach the site

The main obstacle was the terrain. Emergency vehicles were unable to reach the location where the injured person was found, so the evacuation had to begin on foot. That meant carrying the stretcher over approximately four kilometres before the ambulance could take over.

This kind of access problem can extend an emergency response well beyond the point at which the casualty is located. In this case, the teams spent more than four hours completing the operation, from the initial response through to the safe transfer of the hiker to medical care.

The account of the rescue also underlines the practical demands faced by emergency crews in the Almeria mountains. Reaching an injured person is only one part of the work; moving them safely through uneven or inaccessible ground can take considerable time and cooperation.

A coordinated conclusion

The operation ended successfully with the hiker evacuated and transferred to hospital. The medical team provided the necessary attention after the stretcher was brought to the point accessible to the ambulance.

Proteccion Civil de Laujar de Andarax highlighted the joint effort and professionalism of everyone involved. The response relied on cooperation between the fire service, Guardia Civil, Plan Infoca, environmental agents, local Civil Protection and healthcare personnel, coordinated through Emergencias 112 Andalucia.

For the local community, the rescue is a clear example of the work carried out by emergency services beyond firefighting and other more familiar duties. In remote parts of the Sierra de Laujar, coordinated teams may need to cover long distances by hand before a vehicle can reach an injured person. Here, that combined effort allowed the hiker to be safely removed from the mountain and taken on to hospital.

For updates on local community life, public services and local developments across the province, follow our latest posts in the Community section.