UPDATED 7th July 2011
Click to view the Guardia Civil video of the rescue.
The Dutch tourist who has been missing for more than two weeks in Nerja was found alive on Wednesday, trapped in a pool between two waterfalls on the river Chillar, in an inaccessible area near to the source of the river. After a rescue operation lasting several hours, the 48 year old woman was freed by the Mountain Rescue team, who had to use ropes to descend into the pool, and she was transferred to Velez Malaga Hospital by helicopter. She is reported to have been in a good state of health, hungry and with some scratches, but otherwise un-harmed.
She was released from hospital at 6pm on Thursday after completing various medical tests and must stay on a liquid diet for 48 hours.
She is reported to have lost 10kg of weight during her ordeal.
Mary-Anne has told her rescuers that she was trying to walk up the river to return to Frigiliana and got into difficulties when she realised she was lost, in this very rugged area. She survived by drinking the river water and eating plants.
Three walkers found Mary-Anne whilst out walking the Rio Chillar early on Wednesday morning and called the 112 emergency services at 7:50am.
Hikers familiar with the area have commented that the rescue will have been difficult, given the nature of the terrain.
Ms Goossens arrived in Malaga on 15 June to spend ten days on holiday and went to Nerja the next day, where she checked in to the Hotel Bajamar and sent a text message to her family. Since sending that message she was not in contact again with her family, her mobile phone has remained off and she did not make use of her bank cards or slept in her hotel, even though her luggage was still in the room she reserved.
The last know sighting, until the rescue, of the missing Dutch tourist was in Frigiliana on Friday the 17th of June, after having been dropped off there by taxi.
The Guardia Civil conducted a search of the surrounding area with dogs and helicopters, but found no trace. A court order was obtained to check the location of her mobile phone by tracing its signal, but this did not yield any new information.
Bookmark Or Email This Page
