English Hiker Rescued in Italy's Zingaro Nature Reserve

An elderly English male tourist fell on the Orchid Trail within the Zingaro Natural Reserve in Sicily, Italy, while walking with his wife. The accident occurred around 13:00, and the injured hiker suffered trauma to an upper limb and severe fatigue due to the heat, steepness and length of the route.

Emergency services were alerted through Italy’s 112 emergency number. The regional Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps activated a helicopter from the 4th Flight Unit of the State Police. An AW‑139 helicopter launched from Palermo‑Boccadifalco, with a rescue technician on board, and a second technician boarded at Castellammare del Golfo. The team winched the couple to safety and transferred them to the Castellammare staging area, from where an ambulance took the hiker to Alcamo Hospital for medical assessment.

The rescue unit reiterated safety advice for hikers in the Zingaro Reserve, recommending proper footwear, at least two litres of water per person, avoidance of midday heat, and only undertaking medium‑altitude trails in good physical condition during summer.