The commander of the Nordeste Volunteer Fire Department, Manuel Paiva, told Lusa news agency that the woman, of Italian nationality, fell into a ravine while hiking on the Caldeirões stream trail, which is currently closed to the public.
“Access [to where the victim was located] was difficult. She couldn’t get out on her own, and we had to activate a high-angle rescue team to remove her from the location,” he explained.
The woman “complained of pain in her left shoulder blade and lower back,” and was later transported to the hospital, said Manuel Paiva.
The alert for the fall reached the Nordeste firefighters at 12:40 PM local time (1:40 PM in Lisbon) “through 112,” and the rescue operation was completed around 3:00 PM local time (4:00 PM in Lisbon).
The fire department commander appeals to tourists visiting the Nordeste municipality and the Azorean island of São Miguel to avoid trails that are closed to the public and to be “more careful” with their safety.
“When you see restricted areas, don’t go there. If they’re restricted, it’s because something is wrong in that location,” he said.
The Nordeste Volunteer Fire Department responded with 13 personnel and three vehicles, along with elements of the Public Security Police (PSP) and the Immediate Life Support Vehicle (SIV) from Ribeira Grande.
In the same area of the Nordeste municipality, on July 7, another accident occurred, resulting in the death of a 62-year-old tourist, also due to a fall of about 20 meters in the Caldeirões stream.
According to a police source, the accident happened around 1:30 PM local time (2:30 PM in Lisbon) while the woman, of Portuguese nationality, was taking photos in the Caldeirões stream area, a tourist spot in that municipality on the island of São Miguel, known for its waterfalls.
