Andorra Firefighters Helicopter-Evacuate Ill Spanish Man from Catalan Mountain Refuge

Firefighters from Andorra's Mountain Rescue Group collaborated early Thursday morning on the helicopter evacuation of a person who fell ill at the Certascan mountain refuge in Catalonia's Alt Pirineu.

Catalan emergency services received the alert at 9:18pm on Thursday for someone feeling unwell at the refuge in Vall de Cardós. Members of Catalonia's Special Operations Support Group (GRAE), a doctor, and a team from Ribera de Cardós hiked to the site to provide care and prepare for evacuation. Unable to complete the nighttime operation themselves, Catalan firefighters requested assistance from Andorra.

Around 1:30am, two Andorran Mountain Rescue Group members arrived at the refuge and airlifted the individual using an Andorra firefighters' helicopter. The patient was transferred to the nighttime heliport at La Seu d'Urgell, where Catalonia's Medical Emergency System (SEM) assumed care.

The full operation lasted about one hour and 15 minutes, according to Andorra's firefighters and their Catalan counterparts. The duty chief confirmed the details to Diari d'Andorra. No further updates on the person's condition or nationality were available.

Catalan firefighters shared details on social media, noting the hike to the refuge and the handover at La Seu. This rescue follows other recent operations by Andorra's emergency services, including Tuesday's cardiorespiratory arrest response on Doctor Nequi street in Andorra la Vella and a midday mountain evacuation in the Madriu area.