Irish golfers plunge buggy off 7-metre cliff in Costa del Sol
The shocking accident took place at the Santa Clara Golf Club in Marbella
A pleasant day on the fairways of Marbella turned into a scene straight out of a bad movie when two Irish holidaymakers took a surprise detour off the course and straight into a 7-metre ravine.
The mishap occurred on Saturday May 24 at the Santa Clara Golf Club, a picturesque spot just east of Marbella, which proudly markets itself as “one of the best golf courses on the Costa del Sol for a stimulating and unforgettable experience.” Safe to say these lads won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.
According to officials, the duo, aged 29 and 46, were nearing the end of their round and heading between the 17th and 18th holes when disaster struck. For reasons that remain unclear, their buggy smashed through a protective barrier.
One man managed to leap out just in time, while the other stayed with the vehicle as it made its dramatic plunge.
“The most-seriously injured of the two men is still in Carlos Haya and the other is in the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella,” confirmed a spokesperson for the golf club, who also said both men are now in stable condition.
Much to the shock of other golfers, the incident required an emergency response worthy of a Hollywood set. Firefighters had to use ropes and a special stretcher to retrieve the more seriously injured man, who was later airlifted to hospital.
The buggy, powered by petrol and rarely pushing past 12 miles per hour, apparently found just enough speed and misfortune to make the jump.
“We’re still not sure exactly what happened but all we can think at the moment is that the man driving suffered a distraction at the wheel,” the club spokesperson admitted.
He added: “The two men hurt were both tourists who were part of a larger group of around nine English-speaking golfers”. He then confirmed that they were Irish.
“They were part of a group of four golfers who had just finished on tee 17.
“Another group, who included an Irish national who lives in Marbella and is well-known at the golf club, was ahead of them on the eighteenth tee.
“Everyone is obviously very shocked at what happened but fortunately it looks as if both men are going to pull through. We are inquiring about their health every day and they are currently both stable.
“We’re still not sure exactly what happened but all we can think at the moment is that the man driving suffered a distraction at the wheel.”
In other news: Ouigo adds more summer trains between Madrid and Málaga
Image: Santa Clara Golf Club
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