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Night Winch Rescue Saves Stranded 25-Year-Old in Karwendel After Group Split

A police helicopter using thermal imaging located the missing climber, enabling an RK-2 crew to hoist him from steep terrain.

Overview

  • A 25-year-old German left two 17-year-old companions after a dispute and, without maps, became trapped above a rockfall at about 1,700 meters in the Marxenkar.
  • Rescuers were alerted around 18:45 after the companions, who had offline maps, informed a hunter they could not find their partner.
  • The police helicopter team Libelle FLIR from Salzburg detected the man at about 22:20 after he signaled with light, using a thermal camera to fix his position.
  • The night-capable ARA Flugrettung NAH RK-2 from Reutte conducted a winch extraction and delivered him to Scharnitz, with only minor abrasions and leg swelling reported.
  • The operation drew multiple units including Bergrettung Scharnitz and Leutasch, drone teams from Innsbruck and Landeck, and Alpine police, and prompted reminders to plan autumn tours with lights and navigation.