WhatsNewDay
Find the latest breaking news and information on the top stories, science, business, entertainment, politics, and more.

British couple have to be rescued as motorhome gets stuck in tiny southern Spanish streets

Alley oops! British couple have to be rescued after their motorhome gets stuck between houses after trying to drive it through the small streets of Spanish villages designed for small carts

  • British holidaymakers fall victim to narrow Spanish streets in the south of Spain
  • Police were called to rescue the vehicle after it got stuck between houses

This is when a road trip across Spain turned into a road to nowhere for an unhappy British couple who discovered Andalusian villages weren’t designed for modern motorhomes.

Middle-aged holidaymakers’ stopover in picturesque Sorvilán, a village of 614 residents south of Granada, turned into a nightmare they won’t soon forget.

A tow truck and local police had to come to their aid after their vehicle got stuck between two houses as they tried to get out of the village.

The couple allegedly missed a sign warning motorists with large vehicles to avoid the center and got stuck in traffic after crossing streets that became increasingly narrow.

Their ordeal began around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and their RV was not freed until four hours later.

British holidaymakers find themselves trapped in the narrow streets of a small Spanish town in Andalusia

A man sits in the shadows as the RV remains wedged between two buildings

A man sits in the shadows as the RV remains wedged between two buildings

Can't park there: RV got stuck next to a no parking sign on a tight corner

Can’t park there: The camper got stuck next to a no parking sign on a tight corner

Fortunately, the unnamed couple was able to continue their journey, albeit with damage to the vehicle and to the wall of one of the houses they accidentally got caught in.

Local police officer Jose Rivas said: ‘They were passing through the village and never intended to stay that long.

“A tow truck had to be called and there was little they could do but wait while we tried to free the RV.

“They didn’t speak much Spanish and it wasn’t really the kind of situation where we would go into detail about where they came from and where they went because they were clearly upset by what happened.

‘But it looked like they were exploring the Costa del Sol and southern Spain and clearly saw no sign on the way to the center of the village warning people to drive large vehicles through the narrow streets.

“We are talking about streets that were built when people used donkey carriages and were not designed for the kind of vehicle that got stuck on Saturdays.

“The surgery to dislodge it basically involved using a jack to lift it and push it out of where it got stuck. There was no other possible solution.

“The motorhome might have been able to get through the gap if it had driven into it in a straight line, but it came out of a corner and although the front half came through, the rear was a bit wider and it was wedged in.”

One of the photos of the unfortunate couple showed them sitting by their trapped vehicle with their heads in their hands before the rescue operation began in the village of just over 500 residents, a short drive from the province’s southern coast Granada, called the Costa Tropical.

Mr Rivas added: ‘Fortunately no one was injured, but there was obvious property damage.

“The side of the motorhome near the driver’s door was badly damaged, but the vehicle was still drivable.

‘I don’t know if the British couple had come to see the church which is one of the landmarks here, or a lovely fountain we have or a museum which is closed at the moment but will reopen shortly after restoration work.

“But I hope this experience doesn’t deter them from returning again.” They just have to be careful where they go with their camper.

“It’s the first time in my year of service that I’ve had to deal with something like this.

“Not only in Sorvilán, but in all villages in the area you have to be careful with this kind of thing.”

The village of Sorvilán, a small outpost in southern Spain, is home to a whopping 614 residents

The village of Sorvilán, a small outpost in southern Spain, is home to a whopping 614 residents

The south of Spain has cities dating back to the 8th century BC.

Many are designed only for pedestrians and small carts pulled by animals.

Narrower streets also help to keep Spanish cities cool.

In 2021, temperatures as high as 117.7 F (47.6 C) were recorded in Córdoba, Andalusia.