A group of three mountaineers left the Colomers refuge, in Salardú, on Friday, with the intention of reaching the Amitges refuge, in Espot, in the Aígüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici national park, but the rain, wind and fog slowed down their progress in the descent from the port of Ratera, at about 2,500 meters high. Added to the adverse weather conditions was another mishap, his GPS stopped working.
The three people, experienced and well equipped, decided to spend the night protected by a large rock, in a kind of cavity, where they were able to build a small wall with snow to protect themselves as much as possible from the wind. In fact, they had to redo this fragile wall several times during the night.
The Grup d'Actuacions Especiales de los Bombers de la Generalitat has detailed the details of the rescue on its Instagram account. All three were completely drenched by the persistent rain and one of them, 50 years old, suffered moderate hypothermia. In such cases, and as specified by the GRAE in their protocols, the affected person must remain lying down and intravenous fluids must be provided at 40-42ºC.
One of her colleagues went out the next morning, Saturday, looking for help, since there is no coverage in this area of the natural park. As she descended in the direction of Sant Maurici, she met personnel from the Amitges refuge, who were the ones who gave the notice, activating the entire rescue operation after 11 a.m.
Two members of the GRAE entered the place, verified the seriousness of the person who suffered from hypothermia and that he had "altered state of consciousness." After an initial attention, she was evacuated by helicopter to the Estany de Sant Maurici area. There the GRAE doctor performed the so-called “burrito” on her, a practice consisting of wrapping her in an aluminized or plastic blanket to keep her warm. The woman stopped shaking, she went from suffering moderate to mild hypothermia and was transferred in a horizontal position, to avoid complications, to the Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida hospital.
The other mountaineer was treated right there without suffering notable damage and the one who went to seek help was unharmed, as confirmed by the Generalitat Fire Department.
It should be remembered that last September two French hikers died of extreme hypothermia after being rescued in this same natural park. The couple, a man and a woman in their 60s, had left the Ventosa i Calvell refuge to cover one of the stages of the Carros de Foc crossing and, after overcoming the Contraix pass, at 2,748 metres, they descended to a path next to the lake of the same name where it is suspected that they spent the night in the open, after a day of rain and wind. The next morning, some hikers found them unconscious and gave the notice, although nothing could be done for their lives and at the Vall d'Hebron hospital in Barcelona they certified their death.
