A 51-year-old tourist hospitalised after falling into Cascais’ Boca do Inferno (mouth of hell) is at risk of receiving a steep fine.
Explained maritime police commander Rui Pereira da Terra, the injured man – a Brazilian – brought the whole sorry saga on himself.
He ‘disrespected’ signs that prohibit pedestrian access to the dangerous cliff edge, slipping (as he was warned he might) and falling into the sea.
He is in fact lucky to be alive. But his brush with the jaws of disaster (or indeed the mouth of hell) required the mounting of an expensive rescue operation, involving numerous vehicles and personnel. Thus, on paper at least, ‘someone has to pay’.
Say reports, the fine for disrespecting signs prohibiting access run from 250 euros to 2,000.
“Access to this cliff, like others along the coast, is prohibited and the dangers duly explained”, said the police commander. “Cliff edges by their very nature are unstable and present risks which people should be aware of, as they should be aware of danger signs”.
For reasons unclear, the Brazilian tourist decided to chance his luck last week, ending up in a neck brace and on a stretcher bound for Cascais hospital.
It is unclear whether the man was released after treatment or whether he suffered any serious injuries.
One newspaper suggested he may have suffered a broken hip, but this hasn’t been verified – nor would it explain the neck brace.
