Belgian man, 46, is critically injured after falling and hitting his head and chest during a hike on Spain’s Costa Blanca

CALPE’S municipal sports field was used as an emergency base for two helicopters on Thursday after a Belgian hiker suffered an accident on the Peñon de Ifach.

The man, 46, fell and sustained serious head and chest injuries.

An Alicante province fire rescue team went with the Alpha 01 helicopter to the site and realised that he needed to be taken to hospital immediately.

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In most cases, a rescued person is flown down to a heliport at the base of the Peñon de Ifach before being transferred to an ambulance.

The need for urgent treatment however, required a different plan.

Police cleared the municipal football pitches allowing the Alpha helicopter carrying the man to land there.

He was immediately taken to a medical helicopter which flew him to Alicante General Hospital.