The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) successfully rescued a 31-year-old Dutch tourist on Wednesday afternoon, July 25, who had illegally climbed Mount Pico in the Azores, unaccompanied and off the designated trail.
The rescue team leader from the Madalena Volunteer Firefighters, Emanuel Martins, explained that after receiving the distress call, they attempted the operation but were unable to proceed due to the cliff where the tourist was stranded.
Fire Chief Lisa Melo confirmed, “It was not safe at all for the team to attempt the rescue.”
The only viable solution was to extract the man by air. “We requested support from the Regional Civil Protection Service, which then activated the Portuguese Air Force,” Melo noted.
The rescue was successfully executed at 7:31 p.m. local time, with a helicopter from Squadron 752 – Phoenix of the Portuguese Air Force.
The tourist, reportedly uninjured, was safely brought down and subsequently taken to Pico Health Center.
He could face a fine exceeding one thousand euros for not registering at the Casa da Montanha and not using appropriate equipment. Additionally, as indicated by the Casa da Montanha on the Azores Government website, he may also be liable for the “expenses related to the rescue, resulting from the violation of regulations, even if negligently.”
Mountain guide Renato Goulart shared several images of the rescue on Facebook, illustrating the incident. “Today [Thursday], July 24, 2025, a rescue was successfully carried out by the Portuguese Air Force helicopter Squadron 752 – Phoenix and with the collaboration of Azores Civil Protection at 7:31 this afternoon,” he recounted, emphasizing the rule violations involved.
“A tourist violating multiple rules climbed without registering, without proper footwear, and completely off-trail ended up in an unbelievable situation on the northern slope,” he described, adding that the location, known as Areeiro de Santa Luzia, is “in a crevice at 2,240 meters altitude,” where the risk was too high for a ground rescue.
The only option, he reiterated, “was a helicopter rescue by a specialized team.”
Goulart highlighted, “Rescue successfully concluded; now follow the necessary consequences, responsibilities, and fines for the tourist.”
Lajes radio also shared several photos of the rescue on Instagram.
The exact number of annual rescues of unauthorized climbers at Mount Pico remains unconfirmed. However, the Madalena Volunteer Firefighters rescue team has already conducted over a dozen rescues this year on the mountain, mainly related to minor falls and injuries, rather than unauthorized climbs.
The Pico Mountain (Portugal’s highest point) is a volcano rising to 2,351 meters. The trail starts at Casa da Montanha, about 1,200 meters above sea level and concludes at the summit. The trail spans about 3.8 kilometers, with a vertical climb of 1,150 meters, described as “very steep” by the Regional Government of the Azores.
Terrain along the ascent varies, including dirt, rocks, gravel, and mud. The average time for both ascent and descent ranges from 3 to 4 hours, during which muscle or joint incidents in the knees or feet are common.
For further information on necessary preparations and regulations for climbing Pico Mountain, consult the official site.
