It was a tough mission for the mountain rescuers from Hallstatt (Upper Austria) on Tuesday evening. When they found a missing 24-year-old, he was still showing signs of life. But a few moments later he died at the hands of his helpers.
“On the one hand, it was a very selective field. On the other hand, some of my comrades knew the boy,” says mountain rescue chief Christoph Preimesberger. The 24-year-old victim lived in Graz, but the grandfather is from Hallstatt. The family spent the Christmas holidays together in the Salzkammergut. On Tuesday, the sporty young man set off alone to climb the Vorderen Hirlatz.
Insufficient equipment
However, he may have underestimated the winter conditions – and these were also his downfall. “It is the middle of winter up there. On Tuesday night it snowed up to 1200 meters. Tuesday it was about minus seven degrees. He was more equipped for a mountain run than for a winter walk,” says Preimesberger, who was involved in the operation himself. .
Hüttenwirt helped with the search
Incidentally, the rescue chain was initiated by the sister of the victim. She called the 24-year-old around 3 p.m. because he hadn’t returned. Then he confessed to her that he was exhausted, couldn’t go on and would probably need a helicopter. After that there was no more contact, he himself did not make an emergency call. Because a hut owner still saw the young man with his binoculars, he was able to considerably limit the search radius for the mountain rescuers.
When the helpers arrived at the athlete, he was still conscious but unresponsive. The young man died a little later in the arms of the mountain rescuers. “Spring in the valley is deceptive. There is snow on the mountain, the markings are under the snow and you should never underestimate the temperature,” Preimesberger warns against unprepared tours.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
