Successful search operation – avalanche in Lower Austria: buried person rescued

In Annaberg (Lilienfeld district) a person was rescued on Wednesday around three hours after an avalanche. Two ski tourers who had been with the man had brought themselves to safety. According to the mountain rescue service, the Lower Austrian (born in 1955) was flown to the University Hospital of St. Pölten with injuries. The fact that the man survived “borders on a miracle,” it said. 100 people and three helicopters were involved in the search operation in the Türnitz Alps.

According to the mountain rescue service, the departure came at noon on the Haupttürnitzrotte forest path near the 1334 meter high Hennesteck. Three ski tourers from the Baden district – all without avalanche transceivers (LVS devices) – were out in the open country outside of the ski area when a wet snow avalanche of around 50 to 70 meters went off. It was difficult to search for the buried person Two men (born 1944 and 1954) who were able to get to safety on their own were cared for by crisis intervention teams. The search for the buried person was difficult, but the man was found alive in the afternoon. The injured and severely hypothermic ski tourer was rescued by rope, as the police reported. More detailed information on the state of health was not available for the time being. Mountain rescue, alpine and flight police, dog handler squadrons, Red Cross, employees of the Annaberg lifts, fire brigade and three helicopters were involved in the search operation – two from the police and “Christophorus 2” from the ÖAMTC. A drone was also deployed.Low chance of survival in wet snow avalanches According to the warning service, the avalanche danger increased from low (level 1 of 5) to moderate (level 2) on Wednesday in the Türnitz Alps during the course of the day. A wet snow avalanche is “solid as concrete”, the chance of survival after three hours is very low, according to the mountain rescue service. A “perfect cooperation” between the emergency organizations was emphasized.
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