A Spanish tourist was evacuated from inside the Bent Pyramid in the Dahshur necropolis (about 40 kilometers south of Cairo) after injuring her foot during a visit. The incident occurred on Sunday and required a special rescue operation in a difficult-to-access area.
According to the Egyptian ambulance service, the woman was located approximately 80 meters below the surface inside the monument. Two paramedics reached the site and, with the support of the complex's guards, activated a rescue protocol adapted to the pyramid's narrow passageways.
How was the operation inside the monument?
The alert came in through the 123 emergency number and the ambulance arrived quickly . Upon arrival, paramedics Ahmed Ali Hamouda and Ali Hassan Abdel Majeed entered through the entrance located a few meters above ground level and found the visitor on a wooden ramp , where she had fallen.
The descent to the exact spot required traversing a passage barely a meter wide and high , with a 26-degree incline . The conditions inside—narrow corridors, low ceilings, and limited ventilation—demanded cautious progress and the organization of shifts to move equipment and ensure the victim's safety.
Once they reached her, the paramedics immobilized her foot with a rigid board and a spider-type restraint before securing her to a stretcher. The return journey was particularly technical: in several sections, the team had to crawl while carrying the stretcher , coordinating with the site's security personnel.
The entire operation lasted approximately one hour , according to ambulance service sources. Authorities described the intervention as one of the most complex ever carried out at a closed archaeological site , due to the depth, restricted access, and the need to preserve the monument's integrity.
Health care and the status of tourists
Upon reaching the outside, the woman was transferred to an ambulance for further evaluation and care. No significant complications were reported beyond the foot injury , which had already been stabilized inside before the transfer.
Throughout the operation, coordination with the enclave's guards and the husband 's cooperation facilitated the location and evacuation . This support proved crucial in maintaining the woman's stability at every stage of the journey.
An architectural icon of complex access
The Bent Pyramid was built by order of King Sneferu in Dahshur and is known for the change in its angle of inclination halfway up, a historical solution to avoid structural stability problems . Its interior combines sloping ramps, narrow passageways, and funerary architectural elements , features that complicate movement.
The monument remained closed to the public for more than half a century for security reasons and reopened in 2022. The current access allows you to descend through a 79-meter tunnel to internal chambers, where you can see the false vault by approximation of courses, an innovation attributed to the period of Sneferu.
The complex also includes a satellite pyramid approximately 55 meters high, associated with the cult of the pharaoh's ka. The unique architecture of the entire site necessitates strict visitor control and specific recommendations for the public.
Measures and recommendations for visitors
The incident has reopened the debate about safety in archaeological sites with restricted access. Among the guidelines emphasized by authorities are wearing appropriate footwear, avoiding carrying unnecessary weight, respecting staff instructions , and not venturing into restricted areas.
In addition to the signage, those in charge of the area remind visitors that the interior geometry of the pyramid limits mobility and may require pauses, especially at points with steep inclines and narrow corridors.
The operation culminated in the safe evacuation of the Spanish tourist and her subsequent medical attention. The coordinated action of the emergency services and the monument's staff, in such a unique environment as the Bent Pyramid , highlighted the complexity of working at such a depth and the importance of reinforcing protocols to prevent accidents in heritage sites with difficult access.