Latest news with #ProvincialFireConsortiumofMalaga
IOL News
25-04-2025
- IOL News
WATCH: Thrill-seeking tourist hangs around for 90 minutes on zip-line adventure
Footage from the scene shows the man hanging motionless above a steep gorge, while firefighters on a bridge high above him prepare to lower a rescue line. Image: X/@cpbmalaga South Africa is known for having some of the best zip-lines in the world. From the Cape Canopy Tour in Elgin to the dizzying thrills of the Zip 2000 in Sun City, adrenaline junkies have no shortage of places to scream their lungs out while soaring above valleys and mountains. The Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour in the Eastern Cape offers an unforgettable glide through indigenous forest, while the Karkloof Canopy Tour in KwaZulu-Natal lets you coast through the treetops in misty bliss. Lekker stuff - until it all comes to a sudden halt. Now imagine you're zooming through the sky, the wind in your face, heart racing, when suddenly, you stop. Dangling mid-air with nothing but your harness and a birds-eye view of the earth far, far below. Scary stuff, right? A Spanish man found himself suspended more than 60 metres above the ground for over an hour and a half after his ride stopped unexpectedly in the middle of a rocky canyon. The terrifying incident took place at the Presa de los Caballeros Via Ferrata zip-line, in Spain, a popular destination for hikers and adventure lovers. Emergency services were called in, and dramatic footage shows the man hanging from a harness, with firefighters perched on a suspension bridge above him, preparing to carry out a technical rescue. Firefighters had to manoeuvre to access the man from above, positioning themselves between 15 and 20 metres above him. Eventually, they hoisted him up to safety, and fortunately, he was unharmed and did not need medical attention. The Provincial Fire Consortium of Malaga later confirmed that the operation was a success. Now, you might be wondering: how on earth does something like this happen? Well, there are a few possible reasons. Mechanical failures can sometimes lead to abrupt halts, especially if pulleys or braking systems jam. Strong winds, especially in mountainous areas, can also interfere with a ride's smooth progress. And in some rare cases, riders may come to a stop because they're too light to generate enough momentum to reach the other side, particularly on longer zip-lines. This is why it's crucial to follow the safety instructions given before each ride. Keeping your legs up, for instance, helps reduce drag and ensures you maintain a streamlined posture which can be the difference between making it across or getting stuck mid-way. Most tour guides will also instruct you on how to hold the harness properly and what to do in case of an emergency stop. So next time you're gliding through the air in South Africa's stunning landscapes, remember: keep your legs up, your wits about you, and say a little prayer that gravity stays on your side.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Tourist is trapped on 200ft-high zipline for 90 minutes after getting caught on Spanish highwire ride
This is the terrifying moment a tourist became stuck on a zip-line for over an hour and a half after the ride came to a grinding halt, leaving him dangling mid-air at 200 ft. The shocking incident occurred on Tuesday in Presa de los Caballeros Via Ferrata, an area that is popular for adventure sports, near Malaga. Footage shows the unnamed Spanish man hanging from a rope in a rocky canyon, as firefighters are seen standing on a suspension bridge above him while they ready themselves to rescue him. Emergency services rushed to the site, but the rescue operation proved difficult and lasted more than an hour and a half, according to Spanish news outlet Antena 3. Firefighters said they had to use a technical maneuver to reach the man from the bridge, and had to position themselves around 50 and 65 ft above the hanging man so that they could hoist him up to safety. 'The rescue was successful and without the need for medical assistance', the Provincial Fire Consortium of Malaga said after the rescue operation was complete. Presa de los Caballeros, which is frequented by hikers and adventure sport enthusiasts, runs over an old dam and includes a 230 ft-long suspension bridge and a zip-line, as well as an underground passage. It comes just a few weeks after firefighters were called to the same area to rescue a woman who became trapped on a zip-line, according to local press. It also comes several months after a little girl was left dangling at 330 ft above the cliffs after coming to a grinding halt on a zip-line in Bali. Shocking footage shows the girl trying to rock back and forth to move along the zipline cable, with her inching forward very slowly on the Flying Fox zipline on Nusa Penida, a small island located near the southeastern Indonesian island of Bali. Meanwhile the girl's terrified mother, alongside several British tourists, watched on in horror from below as the girl is hanging 330ft over the ocean in the video filmed in July last year. Nusa Penida's police chief told local media that the 'foreign child' was stuck on the zipline for about three minutes before she managed to rock herself to the other side. The girl was not injured.
