After falling 32ft near beach, British tourist suffers traumatic head injury in Portugal
Fall near Monte do Engenheiro
The tourist fell around 10 metres down a cliff while climbing in Portugal, suffering a traumatic brain injury. The person was travelling with a friend at the time.
António Ângelo, chief of the Aljezur volunteer firefighters, said the tourist was conscious but speaking incoherently. The pair were using guide cables that fishermen use to reach Monte do Engenheiro.
A rugged coastal setting
The popular sandy beach lies below winding grassy cliffs. A dirt path runs along the cliffs, with only a few wooden bollards marking its route. Strong winds and waves make the beach popular with surfers. It is regularly named among Portugal’s top beaches.
Earlier surfing tragedy
British surfer Arran Strong, 28, disappeared while stand-up paddleboarding in the region in July. He vanished about a mile offshore from Arrifana beach, in Aljezur, while travelling along Portugal’s coastline with surfer and coach José Maria Pyrrait.
Strong lived in Portugal and represented Great Britain at the last two World Surfing Games, where he was the highest-ranked British competitor each time. GB Surfing called him a respected competitor and a kind, generous team-mate in a statement.
Key points
- The tourist fell about 10 metres, or 32ft, down a cliff in Portugal’s Algarve.
- The tourist was conscious but had incoherent speech, according to firefighter chief António Ângelo.
- The fall occurred near Monte do Engenheiro, where fishermen use guide cables to access the area.
- The report also recalls surfer Arran Strong’s disappearance off Arrifana beach in July.