Tourist dies after fall at Cabo de la Nao

A woman tourist, aged 53, fell as she attempted to climb the trig at the Cabo de la Nao in Javea, Alicante, to take photographs of the famous lighthouse and the coastline. The SAMU ambulance service reached the woman after about 45 minutes, according to witnesses, and she was rushed to the hospital in Denia in a critical state after suffering severe head and back injuries and remained in an induced coma but unfortunately died of her injuries later on.

The fatal accident has revealed safety deficiencies at this unique vantage point on the coast of Javea. The trig, which belongs to the National Geographic Institute, has precarious rusted iron grips that serve as a staircase. Tourists tend to climb the trig to gain a vantage point for photographs; it sits at 122.3 metres above sea level.

Questioned yesterday about the danger of this geographical landmark, the Councillor for Safety of Javea, Pepa Gisbert, has made a report to the local police and despite the fact that the trig belongs to another administration (the Geographic Institute under the Ministry of Fomento), measures were taken to ensure the safety of tourists. Gisbert has now raised the issue to see warning signs put in place or even to surround it with a dry stonewall.

This trig point of Cabo de la Nao lies a few hundred meters from the lighthouse and was built on 25 January 1988. It is four metres high.