On Friday, a thirty-five-year-old Belgian man fell and became trapped between large boulders around the natural swimming pools near the seafront promenade in Torrevieja. The Alicante provincial fire brigade were called to the scene at ten ten in the morning, where they mobilised three units, including a command vehicle, a heavy urban fire engine, and a ladder truck, to assist in the rescue effort.

The rocks had been ecologically installed as a breakwater to create calm water pools in the area back in nineteen ninety-nine. During the incident, it was reported that the man slipped while trying to retrieve a bottle he had seen among the rocks. Local lifeguards regularly warn visitors of the dangers of walking on these restricted areas.

Firefighters had to use heavy machinery to dismantle the rock on top of him. A truck equipped with a crane was sourced from a nearby cleaning company to lift the boulder and provide an escape route. This method proved crucial as moving the boulders with hydraulic equipment could have jeopardised the safety of both the trapped individual and the rescuers.

The entire rescue operation lasted approximately two and a half hours in front of a crowd of concerned onlookers. Following his extraction, the man was taken to Torrevieja hospital by an emergency medical team. Fortunately, he only sustained minor bruising and did not require serious medical intervention.