Two dead in Catalan National Park amid sharp rise of mountain rescues

Emergency services have found two bodies in Catalonia’s Aigüestortes National Park, an alpine-like feast of lakes and meadows by the Pyrenees that is just as popular as it can be deadly during the summer season.

Catalan officials have confirmed that the two dead bodies are those of a couple, both medical doctors who worked at Girona’s Trueta Hospital. They were reported missing last Tuesday while on a hike in the park.

Some 40 people took part in search and rescue activities, including firefighters, police officers, and park rangers.

News of the deaths comes after one of the deadliest summers in years in Catalonia’s natural parks, which have seen a staggering rise of domestic visitors following the end of the coronavirus lockdown in June, and which remained high due to travel restrictions during the summer holidays.

Emergency services carried out some 20 rescue operations every weekend, compared to four or five in recent years, as reported by the RAC1 radio station.

As of August 15, emergency services had performed 848 operations, an increase of 115 compared with the previous year.

In an interview with ACN recorded in mid-July, a ranger at the Natural Park of Cadí-Moixeró, where the iconic Pedraforca mountain is located, warned that there are still people who go on hikes unprepared and lacking the essential material.