Drama in the Alps: Hungarian hiker rescued, urgent search for missing partner – picture, video
As already reported in the Slovenian press, two Hungarian citizens got in trouble on Sunday at an altitude of around 1700 meters in the Kamniki Alps, North Slovenia. Mountain rescuers managed to find the female member of the pair and are now reportedly bringing her down. The man has not been found so far.
The two Hungarian hikers called the special rescue services on the phone on Sunday and have been in contact with them, but conversations have been limited to the most urgent matters to save batteries, and due to the weak reception.
The rescue team set out on foot to rescue them and the driver noted at the time that, given the circumstances, they were probably both hypothermic but could have all the essential supplies.
Jernej Lanisek said that this was one of the most challenging rescue missions of the year and warned that hikers should first check the weather forecast before heading into the mountains and adapt the trek to their abilities and skills.
“We are close, but we will certainly not be able to rescue them both before the evening,” said Jernej Lanisek, noting that the rescue would continue in the traditional way and that there were currently 43 mountain rescuers on the ground.
The rescue services revealed that the intense snowfall and blizzards have been a major threat to the rescuers in recent hours, which is why they decided to temporarily close the operation and then restart it.
In the afternoon, news came in that one of the hikers, a Hungarian woman, had been found by mountain rescuers in the Alps, but her companion was still missing. The search for the other hiker is still ongoing.
Mountain rescuers were directed to the female hiker from a helicopter. The man who was supposed to be with her was not spotted from the air.
On Monday afternoon, Jernej Lanisek, head of the rescue team, told the Slovenian news agency STA that one of the hikers, a woman, had been found and was being carried down the mountain. The other hiker is a man who is believed to have fallen and broken his leg. There is no information on his whereabouts at the moment, and the search for him is continuing, Mr Lanisek said.
The helicopter took off twice on Monday but was unable to approach the Hungarians because of strong wind gusts.
It is likely to be no sooner than Monday evening before the two Hungarian hikers trapped in the Kamniki Alps in northern Slovenia can be rescued and taken down. We will update this article as soon as we have new information.
Read also – Horror hiking: dead body found by hikers in Hungarian mountains
UPDATE
“The action ends today; we will continue the search when the conditions allow.”