Three French pilgrims become disoriented in Navarra and need help to reach their hostel
What should have been another stage of Camino de Santiago ended up becoming a day of tension for three French pilgrims who got lost in the vicinity of Erro (Navarra) while they were trying to find the correct route to Santiago.
The group, made up of a man, his niece and a family friend, was located by a Civil Guard Pilgrim Assistance patrol on the N-135 highway after losing the Jacobean path. The walkers were disoriented and asked for help when the official vehicle passed by.
The situation was especially delicate because one of the pilgrims had minor injuries after suffering a fall in a difficult area of the terrain. Furthermore, the young woman in the group was completely exhausted and stated that she could not continue walking.
The agents provided first aid to the injured pilgrim, providing him with healing materials and first aid to clean the wounds. Although he had bruises and traces of blood on his hands and chest, he refused to be transferred to a health center.
With the young woman exhausted and unable to continue the march, the Civil Guard decided to transfer the three pilgrims to the municipal shelter of Zubiri, where they had reserved the night. Thanks to the quick intervention, the incident ended without serious consequences.
The Camino remains safe, but requires caution
The rescue once again reminds us of a reality that many experienced pilgrims know well: a small distraction can quickly become a problem.
Although the Camino de Santiago is one of the safest pilgrimage routes in the world, rescues occur every year due to exhaustion, falls, dehydration or simple orientation errors.
Experts recommend always following the official yellow arrows, carrying enough water, consulting maps or navigation applications and not underestimating the fatigue accumulated after several days of walking.
Because on the Camino, as important as getting to Santiago is doing it safely.
