Two British tourists die in Gran Canaria due to intense heat

Two British tourists died yesterday (Sunday 13th May 2012) on the island of Gran Canaria in two separate incidents related to the intense heat the Canary Islands have been experiencing. Two others have been admitted to hospital with heat stroke and an additional four people have also needed medical attention.

The first event took place in the area of Barranquillo de Andres in Mogan. At 12.48 hours, the 112 emnergency services were alerted that a group of British hikers between 61 and 78 years suffered from health problems related to the extreme temperatures. When medical personnel arrived on the scene most elderly of the hikers, a woman aged 78, had experienced a cardiac arrest. After a period of attempting resuscitation she was pronounced dead. One of her colleagues, who suffered a heat stroke was a 66 year old woman who was later taken by helicopter and admitted to the Hospital de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrin where she was admitted in critical condition.

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A helicopter was also used to transport a third 65 year old hiker who had respiratory failure and was admitted to the same hospital in a critical condition. The other hikers, four British tourists between 61 and 69, were attended to by medical personnel at the scene.

Shortly afterwards, at around 15.00 the emergency services received a call from a hiker who said that his companion had fallen down the Barranco de Azuaje, also o nthe island of Gran Canaria. They were two related British tourists, who had taken a route through this ravine where they planned to stay overnight in the Fontanales area. The emergency services informed the Moya local police that they had difficulty finding the people because they had not properly informed of their location. Finally, the rescue helicopter which had arrived from Tenerife spotted them and was able to rescue the hiker.