Adverse weather initially prevented the deployment of a rescue helicopter.
Fall on Snowfield in Trackless Terrain Triggers Emergency
The accident occurred as the man descended from Windschartenkopf. He lost his way between Rotspielscheibe and Fagstein, entering unmarked terrain near the Kleine Reibe. There, he slipped on a snowfield and suffered injuries to his arm and hand. Around 9:30 p.m., he managed to call emergency services, but rescuers faced significant challenges pinpointing his exact location due to poor mobile reception in the area.
Thermal Imaging Used to Locate Victim as Mountain Rescuers Deployed by Helicopter
A police helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera was dispatched to assist in the search. In a hover maneuver, three mountain rescuers were lowered close to the site of the accident. They administered first aid to the man, who was suffering from hypothermia and unable to walk.
The originally requested air ambulance, “RK1” from Fresach in Austria—equipped for night missions—was grounded due to weather. In response, the police helicopter crew outfitted another aircraft with a rescue winch for the extraction.
Rescue Conducted in Complete Darkness Amid Difficult Conditions
Despite total darkness from the new moon and poor weather conditions, the helicopter crew managed to reach the accident site. On the first approach, they hoisted the injured hiker and one rescuer; on the second pass, the remaining two rescuers were lifted out. All were flown to Schneewinkl and the patient was then transferred by ambulance to the district hospital in Bad Reichenhall.
Mountain Rescue Teams Active Until Early Morning
The Berchtesgaden Mountain Rescue was engaged in the mission until 3:40 a.m. Wednesday. This marked their 15th alpine operation in May alone, and officials described it as one of the most demanding so far this year.
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