Stranded tourist saved thanks to the SOS Button at Teide Cable Car Upper Station

At around 8:30 AM on Sunday, June 9, 2024, the SOS alert button was activated from the upper station of the Teide Cable Car, which is directly connected to 1-1-2 Canarias.

The alert was to rescue and evacuate a middle-aged foreign man who was alone at the summit of the volcano without warm clothing, mobile connection, or light, and with very low blood pressure and pulse. The man himself activated the SOS button.

The cable car staff fully cooperated in the rescue, offering their emergency rescue units located at the site. Firefighters, personnel from the Canarian Health Service, and the Red Cross also responded. The cable car was activated to transport the rescuers, along with Volcano Teide staff, to the upper station to provide initial first aid to the man who activated the SOS button and then transfer him by cable car to the base station, where he was attended by the SUC personnel.

The activation of the SOS button and the use of the cable car significantly reduce the rescue response time, which is crucial for maintaining the physical integrity of the evacuated person.

The SOS button, located at the upper station of the Teide Cable Car, was put into service on December 12, 2023, by the Cabildo of Tenerife and 1-1-2 Canarias in cooperation with Volcano Teide. According to its managers, having access to the SOS button and the cable car facilities near the summit of Teide is vital for facilitating and speeding up rescues for visitors to the national park who encounter any issues.

This device is part of a set of commitments made by Volcano Teide to ensure the safety of park visitors and its close cooperation with the Red Cross, Tenerife Firefighters, the Emergency and Rescue Group, the Canary Emergency Service, and the State Security Forces and Corps, as well as other mountain rescue entities.