A dramatic incident unfolded near the village of Katydhata in the Nicosia district, where a game warden, attempting to protect himself from three poachers, fell into a 100-metre-deep ravine.
The incident occurred in the prohibited area of the “Foukasas” mine, which borders the buffer zone and the occupied territories. The rescue operation, coordinated by the Fire Service, EMAK (Special Disaster Response Unit), the Police Air Wing, and the Ambulance Service, lasted several hours.
It all began at midday when a patrol of the Game Service spotted three poachers illegally hunting with dogs in the mine area. A game warden approached them and asked them to stop for an inspection, but they fled. During the pursuit, as the game warden came within 20-25 metres of them, the poachers turned towards him in a threatening manner, holding hunting rifles. In an attempt to protect himself, the gamekeeper stepped on unstable ground and fell into the ravine, which had a pool of water with acid at its base.
Fortunately, he managed to stop before reaching the bottom of the ravine and called for help. His rescue was challenging due to the unstable terrain. Eventually, a rescuer descended using a police helicopter and successfully retrieved him safely. The gamekeeper was transported to Nicosia General Hospital, where examinations confirmed that he was in good health.
The Police and the Game Service are continuing their investigations to locate and arrest the poachers.
Also read: Dog rescued from 20-metre ravine in Paphos
