World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
German climber rescued after companions leave him on Austria's Hochkönig
A 20-year-old German climber was rescued from the Königsjodler route on Austria’s Hochkönig after becoming exhausted and dangerously cold.
He had set out with two companions despite a warning from another climber and a very poor weather forecast.
At about 2,600 metres, he could not continue and called for help, while his companions went on to the closed Matrashaus near the summit.
Eleven mountain rescuers reached him around midnight after a helicopter could not fly in the storm.
They escorted him down through deep snow, icy terrain and areas where snow was sliding; the rescue took about 14 hours.
A rescue official said he might not have survived another night on the mountain, and stressed the need to heed warnings and turn back in time.
Alpine police are investigating the incident; the two companions later descended by the normal route.
A 20-year-old German climber was rescued after being left behind by two companions on Austria’s Hochkönig.
He became exhausted and cold at about 2,600 metres on the Königsjodler via ferrata and called for help at around 7 p.m.
Eleven mountain rescuers reached him shortly before midnight after a helicopter could not fly in the weather.
The dangerous descent through snow took more than eight hours, and the group reached the Erichhütte at 8:18 the next morning.
The companions reached the closed Matrashaus near the summit and later descended by the normal route; alpine police are investigating.
- Who
- A 20-year-old German climber, his two companions and eleven mountain rescuers from Mühlbach.
- What
- The climber was rescued after his companions continued without him. Alpine police are investigating.
- When
- During the night from Saturday to Sunday; he called for help at around 7 p.m. and rescuers reached him shortly before midnight.
- Where
- On the Königsjodler via ferrata on Austria’s Hochkönig, at about 2,600 metres.
- Why
- He became exhausted and cold in severe weather. The sources say the group set out late despite a warning and a poor forecast.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The three climbers set out on the Königsjodler despite a warning and a poor weather forecast.
The exhausted climber called for help from about 2,600 metres while his companions continued toward the summit.
Eleven rescuers reached the climber after a helicopter could not fly in the weather.
The rescue team reached the Erichhütte with the climber after a dangerous descent through deep snow.
- Climber
- 20-year-old German
- Location
- Königsjodler via ferrata, Hochkönig, Austria
- Elevation
- About 2,600 metres
- Rescue team
- 11 mountain rescuers from Mühlbach
- Rescue destination
- Erichhütte, reached at 8:18 the next morning
- Investigation
- Alpine police are investigating
3 sources
What people are saying
A further night up there, with snowfall and under these conditions, he probably would not have survived.
Mountaineering also means turning back in time. The mountains are not going anywhere.
The climb was already demanding for our emergency crews because of the weather conditions.