Firefighters rescue tourist who fell 20m into Caldeirones River in Sao Miguel

A 62-year-old tourist was rescued by firefighters from the northeast and taken to hospital on Sao Miguel Island, Azores, this Saturday after falling into a ravine about 20 meters high, according to a civil protection source.

North East Volunteer Firefighters chief Manuel Paiva told Lusa that the woman, an Italian national, fell into the ravine while walking along the Caldeirones River, which is currently closed to the public.

“Access [ao local onde a vítima se encontrava] “It was difficult. She couldn’t get out on her own, and we had to call a rescue team and remove her from the scene at a high angle,” he said.

The woman “complained [com dores] shoulder blades on the left side and the lower back,” and was later taken to the hospital, Manuel Paiva said.

The alarm about the fall was received by firefighters in the north-east at 12:40 local time (13:40 in Lisbon), “via 112”, and the rescue operation was completed at around 15:00 local time (16:00 in Lisbon).

The fire chief is urging tourists visiting the municipality of Nordeste, as well as the Azorean island of São Miguel, not to use trails closed to the public and to be “more careful” about their safety.

“When you see closed areas, don’t go there. If they’re closed, there’s something going on there,” he said.

At the scene were the North-East Volunteer Fire Department, with 13 personnel and three vehicles, members of the Public Security Police (PSP) and a SIV from Ribeira Grande.

In the same area of ​​the northeastern municipality, another accident occurred on July 7, resulting in the death of a 62-year-old tourist, who also fell from a height of about 20 meters into the Caldeirões River.

According to a police source, the accident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. in Lisbon) while the Portuguese woman was taking photos in the Ribeira dos Caldeiroes area, a tourist spot in the municipality on the island of Sao Miguel, famous for its waterfalls.