Fifteen mushroom foragers rescued in Catalonia since season began

Most victims are older people who are familiar with the mountains but become disoriented and are unable to safely find their way back

Mushroom foragers
Mushroom foragers / Carola López
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

September 27, 2025 11:48 AM

Since the mushroom foraging season began in early September, Catalan firefighters have already performed fifteen rescues of foragers.

"Just this Thursday alone, we had five rescues," says Francesc Martínez, head of the GRAE section of the firefighters, speaking to the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

Martínez explains that the number of people heading into the woods for mushroom hunting is "massive," attracting people of all ages.

Many incidents involve falls or minor injuries, which do not require full rescues. However, the number of actual rescues has increased over the last two "exceptional" seasons.

The most common profile is an older person who knows the mountains well but becomes disoriented and, due to physical limitations, is unable to return on their own.

Firefighters search for missing mushroom forager
Firefighters search for missing mushroom forager / Albert L. Cobo

"If we are lucky and the person has a phone, we can guide them, but sometimes they don’t carry one or don’t know how it works, which complicates the rescue," Martínez explains.

Just this week, an 83-year-old was found dead after being missing for two days in the Pallars Jussà region.

For this reason, firefighters strongly recommend carrying a fully charged phone, wearing appropriate clothing, and checking weather forecasts before heading out.

They also advise never going alone if possible. Even if a group splits up, staying in contact, even by shouting, is vital.

In all cases involving older people who go missing, they are usually found having walked "much farther" than they are physically able to manage safely.

Wild Camagrocs mushrooms
Wild Camagrocs mushrooms / Nia Escolà

Another common issue is that some foragers get lost because the location they visit is kept secret.

"They meet a few friends and go with someone else’s car, but don’t tell anyone where they are because it’s supposed to be secret. Often, all they know is the village where they had breakfast," Martínez explains.

This is precisely why phones are so important. "Phone GPS locations make rescues much easier," the Martínez explains.

FOLLOW CATALAN NEWS ON WHATSAPP!

Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone