Dramatic mountain rescue: hikers on Zugspitze in need!

Dramatic mountain rescue: hikers on Zugspitze in need!

Ehrwald, Österreich - On June 8, five Germans went on an ambitious mountain tour from the Eibsee to Zugspitze. However, the climb was anything but unproblematic. The group not only cracked the summit, but also ignored an official lock and chose the blocked Bayernsteig and the via ferrata "stopping puller" for their climb. When the last ridge was reached, two men separated from the group, which was to lead to dramatic scenes. The younger of the two, a 34-year-old, lost their orientation and got into rough terrain, while his companions, a 39-year-old, continued to try to hold the group together. However, he could no longer help.

The accident started when the 34-year-old stuck in a steep overhang and had no mobile phone to get help. At that time, the two hikers who were traveling with him had noticed his absence and when they heard his calls for help, alerted the mountain rescue Ehrwald at 10:20 p.m. The 39-year-old made an emergency call around 11:30 p.m. and was able to send his location via WhatsApp.

savior in use

The mountain rescue Ehrwald quickly followed the emergency call. A rescue helicopter discovered the 39-year-old, who was very hypotherized and soaked, so that he was immediately taken to the hospital in Reutte. In the meantime, the remaining hikers stayed in contact with the emergency services over the missing 34-year-old. A team from the mountain rescue finally heard a call for help and was able to track down the 34-year-old, who, fortunately, was unharmed but severely hypothermic.

The rescue was challenging because it was not possible to use the helicopter. Instead, the rescuers rose over a 60-meter-high rock face, which finally led to the rescue of the 34-year-old at 05:50. At 7:00 a.m., all emergency services and the saved men had been safely arrived at the mountain rescue home in Ehrwald. Despite insufficient equipment, both were physically intact.

winter conditions

The dramatic events were not the only challenges in the past few days at the Zugspitze. On Saturday before the mountain rescue, emergency calls were discontinued by a total of 29 people at a height of approx. 2,500 meters, which were blocked on the Zugspitzplatt. These were saved by seven emergency services from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue service. The strong fresh snow of around 60 centimeters caused winter conditions and made the ascent to the Zugspitze a dangerous matter.

The Alpine clubs and local organizations are currently urging the conditions. The paths to important huts such as the Höllentalangerhütte are snow -free, but numerous climbs are only possible for experienced mountaineers with the necessary equipment. The Alpine Association of Munich & Oberland advises against walking between Knorrhütte and Sonnalpin or climbing over Höllentalweg to the Zugspitze, where the winter conditions are a significant danger.

The mountain rescue remains a load -bearing pillar of the alpine security in Tyrol. Thanks to modern rescue systems and extensive training, the region remains one of the safest alpine countries in the world. However, as the current events show, caution is advised, and self -overestimation can quickly lead to dangerous situations. Thanks to the commitment of the rescuers and the volunteer fire brigade as well as the mountain rescue service, hikers can rely on quick help if they are in need.