Tragic hike on monte Ponoig: missing police officer found near summit
The Guardia Civil aviation unit discovered the deceased tourist on Wednesday during a large-scale search operation in the monte Ponoig area, located near the Polop municipality in the Alicante province.
The deceased was a 45-year-old local police officer Xixona. The man went to the mountains on Tuesday, but did not return. Later, his car was found in the Polop area, after which the air and ground forces Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional, municipal law enforcement officers and firefighters were involved in the search.
Representatives of Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos de Alicante noted that the body was found near the summit on a section of increased difficulty. Circumstances indicate that the hiker died as a result of a fall from the slope.
Context
The Ponoig massif, which towers over the municipality of Polop, is often called the "Sleeping Lion" (El León Dormido) in the region due to its characteristic silhouette of the rocks. The peak reaches over 1,180 meters above sea level and attracts hikers with a complex system of trails, scree and sheer limestone walls with popular climbing sectors and via ferratas.