Rescue teams in Àger, Lleida, found a body in the area where a 56-year-old man disappeared while paragliding last Saturday. The recovery came after a four-day search coordinated by Bombers de la Generalitat. The paraglider was found dead, though formal identification was still pending in the initial report.
The search began late Saturday after emergency services received an alert about the disappearance. Initial efforts focused on the Montsec d’Ares area, particularly near the Sant Alís summit, where the man was last seen. Ground teams searched throughout Sunday with the Guardia Civil, covering Aragonese sectors around Montsec, as well as the areas of Finestres and Montgai. The operation was temporarily suspended as teams awaited further leads.
On Monday night, a witness reported seeing the man take off and struggle against strong winds as he headed towards the Terradets reservoir. Bombers widened the search on Tuesday to include the opposite bank of the Noguera Pallaresa river. A Mossos d'Esquadra helicopter joined the operation and spotted a paraglider canopy around midday between Àger and Vilanova de Meià. Bombers’ specialist operations teams reached the site and found a body near the equipment.
Àger has a local Bombers volunteer station. The town is also one of 22 parks whose volunteers are part of a separate legal action brought by 108 firefighters seeking employment rights equivalent to those of career firefighters and registration with Spain’s Social Security system. That dispute concerns the volunteers’ employment status, not the paraglider search.
The incident highlights the risks of paragliding in mountainous terrain, where changing conditions can complicate rescue operations. The Montsec area attracts paragliders and other outdoor enthusiasts. Difficult access in remote or hazardous locations can also hinder emergency responses, as the ongoing calls for accountability in the Sa riera tragedy in Begur show.
Authorities have urged people taking part in high-risk outdoor activities to exercise caution and check local conditions before setting out. The recovery ended a four-day search, while formal identification was still pending in the initial account.
