More than 100 elderly holidaymakers and children spent the night stranded up the mountain
SEVENTY tourists were lowered 250ft down an active volcano to safety using ropes after two cable cars broke down in mid air.
At least eight Brits are understood to have been involved in the dramatic rescue, which saw dozens brave the descent after they became stranded above the 12,000-ft high Mount Teide in Tenerife.
Another 111 people - including children - spent the night in the cable car station and a refuge half-way up before being led down the mountain on foot today after the cars suddenly broke down on Wednesday.
Terrified holidaymakers were strapped into harnesses, dropped through the hatch of the cable car and lowered to safety one-by-one using a pulley system during a four-hour rescue operation.
Helicopters, 50 firefighters, police and park rangers were called into action after the cable cars stopped half-way up the volcano, which is Spain's highest mountain, at around 2pm on Wednesday.
The group is believed to include a number of Brits as the attraction is popular with visitors from the UK.
Around 200 people were stranded at the top of the mountain, and while several were able to walk down, elderly holidaymakers and families with young children were forced to spend the night awaiting rescue in daylight.
Were you rescued from Mount Teide? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
They were given warm clothes, blankets and food as temperatures can plunge below freezing on the mountain.
Some were also treated for altitude sickness.
An Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in close contact with emergency services following the evacuation of the Teide cable car in Tenerife.
"A small number of British people were involved in the evacuation but they have not suffered any injuries.
"We are ready to provide consular assistance if needed.”
The Canary Government officially activated its emergency plan and a massive team, including the Red Cross, was involved in the rescue.
A spokesman for the cable car operator said the emergency system had stopped the cable cars midway, presumably having detected a fault or problem.
The exact cause will not be known until today.
The stuck cable cars were about 40 to 50 metres above the ground.
One French couple on board said they felt a "strong blow" as the cable car shuddered to a halt.
Tenerife's island council said the rescue had gone very smoothly and there had been no risk involved.
A team of pyschologists was called in to help any of the tourists suffering from trauma.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
