Girl, nine, is crushed to death by a falling rock while swimming at Spanish hot springs beauty spot

Published: 11:54, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 11:55, 14 July 2026 A nine-year-old girl has been crushed to death while swimming at a Spanish hot springs beauty spot. Another woman, aged 24, was also seriously injured when struck by falling rocks. The tragedy happened in the Fontcalda thermal baths in Tarragona, the Catalan port city in northeastern Spain. It occurred as a result of a landslide which brought huge rocks crashing into the water. The pools in the Estrechos de la Fontcalda are very popular with locals and tourists because of their astonishing natural beauty. Bathers who witnessed the accident, as well as members of the deceased girl's family, were deeply affected and psychologists set up a safe space where they were supported. Firefighters immediately called in the helicopter of the Special Mountain Action Group (GRAE). A doctor from the Medical Emergency System (SEM) and three ground support crews provided assistance. The two victims were cooling off in one of the deep pools of the natural hot spring when several rocks fell from one of the side walls of the gorge, hitting them directly. The tragedy happened in the Fontcalda thermal baths in Tarragona, the Catalan port city in northeastern Spain The pools in the Estrechos de la Fontcalda are very popular with locals and tourists because of their astonishing natural beauty As it is an area encased between mountains, plummeting boulders are one of the greatest dangers in this type of river environment, especially in times of increased human activity.  The medical services were unable to do anything to save the life of the girl but the rescue teams managed to free the injured woman. She was evacuated in serious condition in an SEM helicopter to the University Hospital of Tarragona Joan XXIII, after being previously transferred to the local football field for medical attention. Agents of the Mountain Unit of the regional police, with the support of a helicopter, removed the body of the victim once an investigation team had given the go-ahead. The local council has issued a message sending 'our deepest condolences and all our support to the family and close people in these painful moments'. The authority has declared two days of mourning. The 24-year-old woman is in a serious condition in hospital. Her nationality and that of the nine-year-old girl has not yet been revealed and it is not known if they were related. Safety experts are reminding people to be aware of the risks when sitting under rocks or swimming in natural pools with mountains surrounding them.