Hiker airlifted to hospital after fall at La Trapa

Hiker airlifted to hospital after fall at La Trapa

Firefighters stabilise injured woman – helicopter flight to Palma

On Saturday afternoon a stretch of the coastal path at La Trapa, in the municipality of Andratx, briefly turned into an emergency zone. A 65-year-old woman had fallen while descending and could no longer continue on her own. Passersby alerted the emergency services, who arrived shortly afterwards.

The crews of the Mallorcan fire service (Bombers de Mallorca) reached the location via the rocky path, provided medical care to the woman and prepared her for transport. Because the situation and the difficult terrain made a ground evacuation difficult, the team together with the ambulance service decided on an airlift to Hospital Universitari Son Espases in Palma.

Scenes like this are not uncommon here in the Tramuntana: narrow switchbacks, loose stones and a view that sometimes makes you blind to the next step. In the afternoon the sun was already low, it was cool, and people sitting on benches in Puerto de Andratx suddenly looked up as the rescue helicopter circled. Photos from Bombers de Mallorca show the helicopter loading the patient – a logistical coordination that has become routine on Mallorca, as in Dramatic Helicopter Rescue at Puig Major.

For the injured woman, the quick response by the emergency teams and the subsequent flight to Palma meant that she was soon in the hands of specialists. Son Espases, the island's main hospital, is central for such emergencies. For data protection reasons we have no details on her condition.

What remains is the reminder of two things: the competence of the rescue teams and the fragility of an outing. Hikers here often see well-equipped locals and holidaymakers with hiking boots, trekking poles and small backpacks. Yet one careless step is enough to end a tour abruptly.

A small, practical tip: a fully charged mobile phone, an emergency blanket in the backpack, a whistle or a sufficiently stocked first-aid kit can make a big difference on steep paths. If you are unsure, join a guided hike — especially on more demanding sections of the Andratx coast.

For Mallorca this rescue is a quiet confirmation: the island has a well-rehearsed emergency infrastructure that acts quickly in difficult moments. At the same time it is a call to experience nature here with respect and a little preparation; similar cases are discussed in From Mountain to Hospital: What the Rescues at Puig de Galatzó and Torrent de Pareis Reveal About Mallorca's Hiking Tourism. On the next walk along the cliffs you will not only hear the seagulls, but perhaps also the call for help — and you will know that help is possible.

Photo: Bombers de Mallorca / Facebook