THE DANGERS OF ‘COOLING OFF’ IN SPAIN’S RIVERS AND POOLS

When temperatures reach 40 degrees centigrade, they are very tempting. The clean, cold mountain streams and the tranquil pools of water seem to be waiting for us.

But they are not.

The natural bathing spots in the mountains and forest can be dangerous.

They are often located far away from help. How long will it be before emergency services find you if someone in your group is in trouble and you can call for help?

On the beach, there are lifeguards, floats, and other people to assist. Many streams and forest pool lack these safety features.

Swimming in an improvised facility is also dangerous because you don’t know what obstacles lie beneath the water’s surface: old ropes, waste discarded by previous visitors – even tree roots, can snarl the unwary swimmer.

Given the geology of Andalucía, the number of lonely pools is enormous. Rainwater has “hollowed” out the limestone over thousands of years.

Two rescue missions were needed by the Guardia Civil on Sunday 15th of June after opportunists found themselves in difficulty while swimming.

At 2pm, the Emergency Co-ordination Service of Andalucía passed information to the Guardia Civil concerning a woman who had fallen into a ravine.

The accident occurred in Rio Verde, just south from the village of Otivar and about 20 miles east of Nerja. All that was known is that the woman (55) suffered multiple injuries.

GREIM (the Guardia Civil Mountain Rescue team) went into action. A helicopter dropped officers into the ravine.

The woman had been immobilised by strapping her to a stretcher. She was then airlifted directly to the hospital.

The second rescue of the afternoon took place at six o’clock in the isolated “Alicún Baths” area, inland from Almería.

The local Guardia Civil was notified that some teenagers swimming in natural pools were “swept away” when the water rose.

The officers were joined by workers from the nearby Alicún Spa Centre, searched for and found the young men. The young men were not injured, but they were trapped on a rocky outcrop.

The officers were able to drag the victims one-by-one through the water.