A 61-year-old British hiker has gone missing in the Picos de Europa mountain range in northern Spain due to adverse weather conditions. The hiker contacted emergency services stating he was lost and exhausted around 7pm on Thursday. Spanish authorities initiated a search operation involving land and air resources, but the hiker has not been located yet.
According to a spokesperson from the regional emergency response coordination center, the rescue efforts began promptly upon receiving a distress call from the Castilla and Leon province 999 ops center. The hiker, facing disorientation while on a mountain trail, cited challenging weather conditions with strong winds, low clouds, and intermittent rain, expressing his exhaustion.
After providing coordinates to approximate his location, a rescue helicopter with two rescuers, including a nurse, was dispatched by the regional government. Additionally, the Civil Guard and provincial firefighters were alerted to assist in the search. Despite multiple reconnaissance fly-overs by the helicopter, the hiker remained elusive. As night approached, ground search teams, including a specialized Civil Guard mountain rescue unit, combed the area.
The search operation persisted through the night despite worsening weather conditions, including snowfall. Efforts resumed at dawn the following day. Authorities from the neighboring region of Asturias also joined the search, deploying Civil Guard mountain specialists and other emergency responders to scour the area between Cain and Torrecerredo in Leon.
The Picos de Europa, known as the Peaks of Europe, encompasses a mountain range spanning approximately 12 miles within the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. The highest summit, Torre de Cerredo, reaches 8,690 feet in elevation.