- An emergency operation was launched in southwest Crete after a 55-year-old British hiker collapsed from heat-related illness while hiking through Imbros Gorge.
- The Fire Service scrambled eight officers and three emergency vehicles to the scene after the hiker’s husband sounded the alarm.
- Firefighters successfully tracked down the distressed tourist, stabilizing her with water and vital electrolytes before extracting her safely from the canyon.
- Authorities are issuing an urgent appeal to travelers to halt all midday trekking, warning that if May temperatures are already causing medical emergencies, the peak summer heatwaves will be lethal.
Heat Stroke in May
The jagged stone walls of Imbros Gorge in Sfakia became the stage for a dramatic rescue operation today, serving as a stark, premature warning of the brutal summer heat heading for Crete. A 55-year-old British national, navigating the popular hiking trail alongside her husband, suddenly collapsed after suffering severe dizziness and physical exhaustion, completely overwhelmed by the midday sun.
Realizing the danger of being stranded inside the steep, rocky terrain, her husband immediately dialed emergency services. The Fire Service responded with overwhelming force, dispatching three rescue vehicles and eight specialized officers directly to the gorge coordinates.
Stabilized and Extracted
Rescuers reached the stricken hiker deep within the trail, finding her severely dehydrated and weakened by the premature seasonal heat. First responders immediately administered first aid, treating her with cool water and emergency electrolyte solutions to restore her flagging blood pressure and vitals.
Once stabilized, the firefighters carefully assisted the tourist out of the rocky gorge bed to safety.
A Sharp Warning for the Peak Summer Months
While the tourist escaped without permanent injury, the incident has triggered alarm bells across Crete’s emergency infrastructure. It isn’t even June yet, and the interior canyons of the island are already transforming into dangerous heat traps.
The Fire Service has issued an urgent directive to all travel agencies, hoteliers, and independent travelers, pleading for common sense as the true summer season kicks off. Walking or trekking through remote, rugged areas during peak afternoon hours—when the sun hits its absolute zenith—presents massive health risks, even for seasoned outdoorsmen.
“People underestimate how quickly a gorge turns into a literal oven,” warns the local department. “If we are launching rescue missions for heat exhaustion in May, the peak months of July and August will be unforgiving for anyone who doesn’t respect the noon sun.”
And, as we always warn you: DO NOT HIKE ALONE.
