This is the dramatic moment a Belgian hiker was rescued from a mountain route in Andalucia after becoming ‘frozen with fear’.
According to the Guardia Civil, the woman suffered an extreme panic attack which left her completely unable to move.
The expat, who lives in Malaga, got into difficulty while descending through Los Cañones, a natural area in the province of Jaen.
The woman suffered an intense bout of panic combined with severe muscle stiffness, leaving her unable to continue forwards or make her way back.
Her condition left her stranded in potentially dangerous mountain terrain and prompted an intervention by the Guardia Civil from Los Villares.
Rather than suffering a conventional injury which could simply be treated before evacuation, the woman initially needed constant reassurance and assistance from officers before she could be moved safely.
The Guardia Civil remained calm and patient with the woman as she gradually recovered from the episode.
No serious physical injuries were reported following the ordeal.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
