An 88-year-old woman was found missing in Innsbruck on Thursday evening with a drone. Unfortunately, there is not always a “happy ending” in such cases. There is still no trace of two people who have been missing in the Ötztal for a long time. Twelve people are currently missing in the mountains in the Imst district.
An 88-year-old woman with severe dementia was reported missing from a dormitory in Innsbruck on Wednesday. Police patrols and a police dog handler then searched for the missing person.
Crucial notice
As is now customary for searches, a drone – in this case from the professional fire brigade – was also used. Their thermal imaging camera provided the crucial clue around 2:45 a.m. on Thursday that the woman had been found in the courtyard of a residential building in Innsbruck. She was severely hypothermic and was taken to hospital.
Missing since January
On the other hand, an Ötztaler (52) from Gries im Sulztal has disappeared without a trace. As reported, on the morning of January 9, 2023, the man left the house for a walk from which he never returned. A search by mountain rescue, fire and alpine police including drone was unsuccessful.
New quest in the spring
“We have no indication where else to look,” regrets Peter Gasteiger, chief of the Alpine police in the Imst district. After the snow melts, they naturally want to look for the man again, who, according to Gasteiger, was often alone.
Lost at the Ramoljoch
Keyword “alone”: On August 18 last year, a German (79) wanted to walk without a companion or mobile phone from the Ramolhaus (3005 m) near Obergurgl to the Martin-Busch-Hütte near Vent. “He went in the direction of Ramoljoch, then his track is lost,” says Gasteiger. “The area he could be in is huge. He may have fallen into a stream and aborted.” A total of twelve people are currently missing in the Imst district.
Striking clothing helps in the search
Hans Schlager, head of the Innsbruck Flight Operations Center, knows that searching for missing persons from the air can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. “If the missing person’s clothing stands out against the environment and they have followed the planned route, there is a good chance that they will be found. If we do not discover them for a long time, they have usually died and gone elsewhere.”
Death was barely recognizable from the air
By the way: According to Libelle Tyrol pilot Schlager, the German who died in March in the Kranebitter Gorge near Innsbruck was almost unrecognizable from the air because of his clothing.
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.
