A 19-year-old had all the luck in the world on Christmas Day on the Schladminger Planai (Styria): after an afternoon in a hut, the young man could no longer be found by his companions. More than three hours later, the driver of a snow plow discovered the missing man sleeping in the snow.
On Christmas Day around 5 p.m., a group of six from the Hollabrunn district in Lower Austria wanted to ski into the valley after après ski in a hut at 1,800 meters above sea level on the Planai. However, they had lost sight of the 19-year-old; his skis were still in front of the hut.
Searching for hours in the dark
Around 6:30 p.m., a member of the group reported his disappearance. A search by the Schladming mountain rescue service, supported by the police, began immediately in sub-zero temperatures in the dark – but initially without success.
The drivers of the snow plows on the Planai were also asked for help. They searched the mountain while the kidnapper’s companions scoured the valley with the police, keeping a close eye on the local bars. The Red Cross also deployed a thermal imaging drone.
Hypothermia but unharmed
At around 8.30pm, about three and a half hours after his disappearance, the missing man was discovered by a piste skier – ‘apparently drunk’ according to police. The young man was lying in the snow about a kilometer away from the ski lodge, without gloves or hat. He was only hypothermic, but otherwise unharmed, and was taken to Schladming Hospital for evaluation. The police are talking about a Christmas miracle.
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.
