Mountain rescue and alpine police were extremely busy on a hot Saturday in the Gmunden area. Between 3 and 6 p.m. they had to rescue four exhausted hikers from three different mountains by helicopter – all of them probably underestimated the heat.
The series of operations began at around 3 p.m. on the Jausenstein at around 1,300 meters above sea level. A German (56) briefly collapsed there on his way to the Hochleckenhütte and had to be rescued using a rope and flown to the Salzkammergut Clinic in Vöcklabruck.Hours in the blazing sunA 26-year-old Czech woman and her 32-year-old compatriot tackled the via ferrata on the Mahdlgupf in Steinbach am Attersee at around 12 p.m. They made slow progress and soon ran out of drinks.After several hours in the blazing sun, they finally had to give up at 4:50 p.m. and make an emergency call. At around 6 p.m., the crew of the police helicopter “Libelle” managed to pick up the duo and rescue them unharmed using a rope.Heat victims on TraunsteinThe Traunstein also claimed a heat victim: a 42-year-old Czech woman arrived at the Traunsteinhaus at around 1,500 meters above sea level at around 6 p.m.She was so exhausted and dehydrated that an emergency call was made. The emergency helicopter “Martin 3” took off for the hiker, she was able to get into the helicopter herself after receiving first aid and was flown to the hospital in Gmunden.Weather underestimatedAll four hikers must have underestimated the length of the tour and the hot, humid weather. They were severely dehydrated and exhausted.
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