Tragic accident in Spain: British climber dies after falling 60 meters

A 28-year-old British climber died after falling about 60 meters from one of the highest mountains in northern Spain. The man fell into a stream while descending from the summit of Torrecerredo in the Cantabrian Mountains on Thursday, Spain’s Civil Guard said.

Police and an air unit were dispatched to the scene after emergency services were called at around 1:27 p.m. local time. The man’s body was recovered by a mountain rescue unit.

The UK Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities “following reports of the death of a British national in Spain.”

Spanish emergency services said they first received a call reporting that a person had fallen on the eastern face of the mountain and sent a rescue team in a medical helicopter.

A doctor among them confirmed the man’s death at around 2:18 p.m. and stayed at the scene to guard the body until a Civil Guard helicopter could arrive about an hour and 20 minutes later.

Specialist mountain rescuers were then lowered by winch to the accident site, where they recovered the man’s body and belongings.

The identity of the climber, whom Spanish authorities said was English, has not been released. The accident happened when he was about 20 meters from the mountain’s summit.

His body was transported to the Institute of Legal Medicine, which provides forensic pathology services, in Asturias, the Civil Guard said.

Torrecerredo, which stands about 2,650 m, is located in the Picos de Europa, known among climbers and hikers.

The region’s tourism board describes the ascent route as “very difficult,” with a tough climb, warning climbers to take special care on the steep, exposed upper sections during descent.