A 63-year-old hiker from Gipuzkoa died in Ordesa National Park after being struck by falling rocks and tumbling down a steep slope. Emergency teams responded quickly, but the man could not be saved. This is the second fatal mountain accident in the region this weekend.
A 63-year-old hiker from Gipuzkoa lost his life on Sunday in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Huesca, after being hit by falling rocks and plunging down a steep hillside. The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. on the Senda de los Cazadores trail, within the municipality of Torla. The man was part of a group of three hikers when a sudden rockfall from higher ground struck them, causing one of the rocks to hit him directly. The impact led to a loss of balance, resulting in a fatal fall down the slope.
Emergency services, including the GREIM unit from Boltaña, the Benasque Air Unit, and a 061 medical team, were immediately mobilized. After locating the victim from the air, rescuers confirmed that he showed no signs of life. The body was airlifted to the Boltaña helipad, where funeral services took over for transfer to the Provincial Hospital of Huesca.
This tragedy marks the second deadly mountain accident in the region over the weekend. On Saturday, another 63-year-old mountaineer from Burgos was found dead near Pico Estatas in Benasque, after being missing since July 21. He had set out to traverse the high mountain ridges connecting Pico Estatas and Pico Cregüeña, but failed to return as expected.
For the Basque mountaineering community, Sunday's fatality is the second such loss this year. Earlier in July, Ander Elustondo Esteban, aged 24 and from Urnieta, died during a descent from Pic du Midi d'Ossau near Laruns in the Béarn region, after falling about 20 meters onto rocks. The previous year, on August 21, 2025, Karlos Santiago Etxeberria, a 67-year-old from Hondarribia, died in the French Pyrenees during a descent from Pico Carlit. In December of the same year, Eneko Arrastua from Irun was killed by an avalanche while skiing on Pico Tablato, near the Panticosa spa in Huesca.
Mountain accidents remain a persistent risk in the Pyrenees, especially during the summer months when hiking activity peaks. The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is one of Spain's most popular destinations for trekking and mountaineering, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Local authorities and rescue teams regularly remind hikers to be vigilant about changing weather and terrain conditions, as rockfalls and avalanches can occur without warning. According to official statistics, the majority of fatal incidents in the Pyrenees involve experienced hikers, often caught off guard by sudden natural hazards. The recent string of accidents highlights the importance of preparation and caution, even on well-known routes.
