HORROR PLUNGE: British man dies in Costa abseiling tragedy near Benidorm

A BRITISH man has fallen to his death while abseiling down a mountain near Spain’s Costa Blanca known as the “Sleeping Lion.”
The unnamed 36 year-old was with his sister-in-law who was rescued by helicopter and taken to hospital with a broken leg.
The climber reportedly fell 80 ft while abseiling down Monte Ponoig, near the town of Polop, and his death is being investigated.
A Guardia Civil statement said:  “Emergency responders spent some time trying to save the life of the man who died but he suffered a serious wound to his chest which frustrated the attempts to revive him.
“Members of the Guardia Civil GREIM team will be carrying out a site inspection later today to try to establish why this accident happened.”
The abseil anchor reportedly broke away, but as the woman fell from a lesser height of 25 ft, she managed to survive.
The two were believed to be experienced climbers who were on holiday in the area.
After being rescued in a fire service helicopter, the woman was taken to a fire station in Benidorm before being transferred to hospital.
The dead man’s body was also taken by helicopter separately to the same fire station.
Monte Ponoig is one of the most iconic mountains in the province of Alicante and is a popular choice for both walkers and climbers.