Police in Majorca have issued a warning to visitors after two British tourists died after being swept away by flash floods on Tuesday, according to reports.
Search teams recovered the body of Sarah Jane Thompson, 26, earlier this week and the remains of her partner Alexander Johnson, 32 on Friday, after the pair reportedly got caught in a waterspout in the Torrent de Pareis.
The Guardia Civil police force in a statement: “Police found the lifeless body of the young British man who disappeared last Tuesday while hiking in the Torrent de Pareis with a group of friends and his partner.”
Police added that a helicopter searching for Alexander spotted his body “half-submerged in an area where branches and rocks had accumulated” and police on the ground were scrambled to recover it.
This week an officer taking part in the search issued a stern message to travellers taking on treacherous terrain with insufficient kit.
“We are tired of taking tourists in flip-flops out of the torrent, who think it’s a stroll when in reality it’s a very demanding route, which you have to do with the right equipment,” they said, as per Majorca Daily Bulletin.
It’s unlikely that the British couple were wearing flip-flops as they’re said to have set off in a group to hike, and a shoe was reportedly found in the search for Alexander.
The Guardia Civil GREIM (Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group) had been mobilised Escorca with some hikers expected to enter near the Entreforc, despite a weather alert for very heavy rainfall, MailOnline reports.
Severe flash flooding had been affecting parts of the island, including the mountain range, after a downpour on September 3.
Spanish authorities put out a video on Thursday of officers dredging the waters and using drones in a bid to find Alexander.
Relatives of the tragic couple, who were holidaying on the Bealeric island, are being supported by mental health professionals.
The search and rescue crew evacuated ten people on Tuesday, including relatives of the couple who were trapped and didn’t have warm and protective clothing as temperatures plummeted in the evening.
The rescued hikers reportedly exhibited signs of hypothermia, after being drenched by the downpour in cold conditions.
Other hikers who were with the two deceased Britons and had to be rescued themselves said Sarah Jane was pulled away by a strong surge of water and shortly after Alexander was carried away whilst attempting to save her, the outlet reports.
The FCDO has been approached for comment.
Hikers visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of Majorca‘s most famous and beautiful walks, often start at Escorca, on the Ma-10 road linking Pollensa with Soller.
But tourists are warned that the canyon floods and that caution must be taken when navigating the trail. Severe flooing makes Long long stretches of the bottom half impossible on foot, people have previously drowned attempting to swim across parts of the canyon.