A paraglider pilot was seriously injured and helpless on a ridge in the Gschnitztal. He was not found by professional emergency services, but by three friends who showed stubborn determination in the search. For the anniversary Erik Richter-Alten (25) – now completely healthy again – would like to thank his rescuers with the “Krone” report.
Erik Richter-Alten (25) celebrates July 6 every year as a second birthday. Because exactly five years ago, the life of Innsbruck hung by choice after a paraglider crash. Coincidences, a crucial idea of his friends and their persistence saved him from death.
Flashback: It is July 6, 2017. Erik and his colleague Thomas start their paragliders on the Elfer in Neustift in the Stubai Valley. “It was my first flight with the license, the thermals were strong and the glider was actually more advanced than it was for me,” admits the passionate amateur athlete who was born in northern Germany today.
Apathetic after the crash, no emergency call possible
At around 2pm, the then 20-year-old quickly lost height above the Gschnitz Valley, shaved off the top of a tree and fell into the woods. There he remains badly wounded and apathetic. The paraglider friend later sounds the alarm. The crew of a search helicopter cannot see the folded parachute under the trees. It is in principle possible to locate a mobile phone via a mast. But you can only reduce the rough area, this is vast and inaccessible. With the ticking of time, brain haemorrhages, nerve damage and broken bones, it means it’s a race against time. It is evening.
“We Can’t Sit Still”
Meanwhile, roommate Stefanie Rohland found out about Erik’s disappearance. She contacts Nico Rossi, a tech-savvy friend of her boyfriend Stephan Hansel. You swear, “We can’t sit and do nothing, we have to do something!”
Activated the rescue app on Erik’s computer
IT specialist Nico starts Erik’s computer. “The fact that I didn’t have a password for the PC was the first step to save my life,” Erik recalls. An email password is the next hurdle, but Nico manages to reset it. The “Find My Device” app can then be activated via the Google account. Suddenly Erik’s mobile phone flashes on the screen – on the Serleskamm at about 1700 meters above sea level!
1000 meters up
The friends do not hesitate for a moment, jump in the car and, constantly looking at the location data, begin the climb of about 1000 meters. “I was approachable, but I didn’t know why I was here,” Erik says about the nocturnal meeting. At 5 am, the rescue helicopter flies the 20-year-old into the valley. The parents first hear from the doctors: “Your son will probably never be able to live without outside help again.”
Erik can’t remember the hours before the accident and the first five days after that. But he is fighting, after weeks he is back on his own feet, is healthy today and in the last phase of various studies (physics, sports science, economics). “This fifth anniversary post is a tribute to my rescuers Nico, Steffi and Stephan.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
