Friend called emergency services – climber slipped and fell 70 meters

A 27-year-old Czech and his Slovak girlfriend of the same age decided to make a two-day crossing of the Sengsen Mountains over the Easter weekend. The two started their journey on Saturday in St. Pankraz and reached the Hochsengs via the Schillereck.

Steep path
From there a steep path, partly secured with iron pins, leads east through a boulder. Although they were only equipped for summer conditions, the Slovak at the front tried to go down the snowy and completely icy track. The couple wanted to spend the night in the nearby Uwe Anderle bivouac.

Fallen 70 meters
She lost her balance on a steep point, fell about four meters over a rock staircase, then slid about 70 meters over steep terrain. The Czech who followed tried to climb down to his girlfriend, lost his footing, fell and then skidded to the point where the Slovak had already come to a stop.

Seriously wounded wrapped in sleeping bags
After making the emergency call including GPS coordinates, the slightly injured man treated his seriously injured partner and put her in the sleeping bags she had brought. Under the most unfavorable conditions, the emergency services made their way to the scene of the accident first on foot and then on touring skis. Accompanied by two mountain rescue doctors, the first team arrived at the victims at 9:30 pm and began providing first aid.

The salvage was not completed until after midnight
The following mountain rescuers ensured the further supply of mountain stretchers and heat suits and for the construction of a radio relay. Transporting the two wounded proved laborious and time-consuming.

At 12:10 p.m., the first injured person was handed over to the emergency doctor who had meanwhile arrived and to the Red Cross vehicle at the Kogleralm. The seriously injured woman was handed over to the Red Cross at 12.45 pm. The two were taken to Kirchdorf hospital.