GRANADA’s Alhambra monument has been ordered to pay nearly €2m in compensation after a Polish teenager was left paralysed by a falling tree branch during a visit.
The 18-year-old, who was visiting Granada on a study trip, suffered a severe spinal injury when the branch struck her in October 2023.
Doctors now say her injuries are irreversible and she will not walk again.
The incident happened on the Cuesta Gomerez, a route leading towards the Alhambra, during a day of strong winds across the city as gusts reached around 70km/h.
She underwent several operations in Granada after suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury and fractures to her spine, ribs, sternum, collarbone, shoulder blade and pelvis.
The Andalucian government’s culture department later found the victim was entitled to more than €1.9m in damages.
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The Alhambra and Generalife Trust, which manages the historic site, has already paid about €900,000, with the insurer now expected to cover the remaining amount.
The payment will help cover medical treatment, home adaptations and long-term care costs.
Before the ruling, the family had taken on significant debt to fund modifications to their home and pay for ongoing healthcare needs, adding they had been struggling financially for a while.
The teenager now requires daily assistance, including support with mobility, medical procedures and routine activities on top of specialist equipment and continuous care.
She uses a wheelchair and relies on another person for many daily tasks.
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