Aquatic sports company that ignored weather warning before team of 22 paddle surfers became trapped in Javea could face costs of rescue mission

THE aquatic sports company that ignored an orange weather warning and led a party of 22 to near-fatal danger in Javea is now facing the costs of the six-hour rescue mission.

The group of paddle surfers became trapped in the Cova del Llop Marí – near to Playa Granadella – on Sunday afternoon as winds up to 120km/h whipped up the sea into a torment.

At least one young daughter accompanied the group while her mother broke her arm in the idyllic cave that has no land access and became a prison for the sports enthusiasts until a Maritime Rescue helicopter lifted all 22 to safety early on Monday morning.

The excursionists had travelled down from Valencia, but it is not clear which company took charge of the trip.

“There was an orange weather alert, during which neither adults nor children should be out doing water sports,” Spain’s government delegate to the Valencian Community, Juan Carlos Fulgencio, said.

“We have opened an investigation, and if we learn that the costs should be repaid, they will be repaid.”

Fulgencio added the probe will determine whether the aquatic company shirked its responsibility, particularly towards the young members of the group.

It comes as Maritime Rescue, Policía Local, Guardia Civil, firefighters from the Consorcio de Alicante, the Red Cross and Protección Civil were involved in a daring rescue effort that began at 6pm and concluded after midnight.