Hiker trapped in mud slide for ten hour on Gaucin’s path

On Saturday, February 14, a 53-year old man was rescued after he became trapped in mud to his waist, in a remote part of Gaucin in the Ronda Mountains near Casares.

Around 3pm a passerby alerted the 112 Emergency Service of Andalucia that a man had become stuck in mud up to the waist in Las Buitreras, a rugged area of the Guadiaro River Canyon between Gaucin and the Los Alemanes, about 2 km from Colmenar.

Half of a hiker is buried in mud by a mud slide

A slope collapsed and buried the victim’s lower body under thick mud. This prompted an emergency call to be made, which activated the emergency response. The authorities coordinated a complex operation by deploying firefighters from Malaga Provincial Fire Consortium units in Ronda, Algatocin and Campillos. They were later reinforced with personnel from Campillos and local police.

Nuestras dotaciones #Ronda The y #Algatocín intervinieron este sábado, de 15.30h a la 01.30h para rescatar a un varón atrapado en el barro de cintura para abajo, en la zona de Las Buitreras, #Gaucín
Es porteado a la ambulancia para su traslado al hospital#CPBMálaga @diputacionMLG pic.twitter.com/jMCIS4KY26

— CPB Málaga (@cpbmalaga) February 15, 2026

The rescue operation took more than 10 hours from 3.30pm on Saturday until 1.30am Sunday. As the teams dug, more mudslides happened, bringing earth, stones and branches into the excavation. This could have further trapped and buried him. Firefighters installed boards and supports on the excavation walls to stabilise the area and prevent further collapses.

Free for 10 hours in freezing conditions

The Gaucin City Hall provided the materials needed for the shoring. The man began to exhibit signs of hypothermia after he was carefully released from the debris. Emergency medical personnel carried him to an ambulance, which transported him to the Hospital de la Serranía in Ronda for evaluation and treatment.

This incident shows the dangers of walking on isolated and weather-affected natural paths, as well the skills and perseverance required by emergency responders to work in such challenging conditions. The man was rescued safely after an extended ordeal, thanks to a coordinated effort. As Dr Foster went to Gloucester, there is little chance he’ll go back!