A hiker was rescued from Wied Babu, Zurrieq, after sustaining a foot injury, with Civil Protection Department (CPD) rescuers using a drone to locate the casualty before evacuating the person by sea, the CPD said Friday.

CPD rescuers from Stations 1, 5 and 8 responded to the incident. Teams from Stations 1 and 8 carried out a search of the area, supported by drone operations, and eventually located the injured man.

Due to the difficult access to the location, rescuers determined that evacuation by sea was the safest and most efficient option.

A medical team from Mater Dei Hospital's Emergency Department treated the casualty at the scene before the injured person was transferred aboard the CPD vessel Manuċċa.

The man was subsequently handed over to the medical team for transportation to hospital.