With 150 missions last year, the Innsbruck mountain rescue service is one of the most demanded local authorities in Tyrol. Above all, the mountain bikers are keeping chairman Bruno Berloffa and his team on their toes.
The Innsbruck mountain rescuers had to cope with around 40 missions in 2008 when the former soccer professional and excellent mountaineer Berloffa took over the management of the local office. “Ten years ago it was about 100, now we have to move out between 140 and 160 times a year,” says Berloffa to the “Krone”. The increase ran parallel to the rapidly growing number of mountain bikers and e-bikers. Because the Innsbruck mountain rescuers have to look after 18 surrounding communities in addition to the provincial capital, they come close to the limits of what is possible. “Thanks to the great work of the highly motivated team, the missions can be managed,” emphasizes Berloffa. “They grow out of the ground like mushrooms,” says the mountain rescue chief. There were 20 last year alone. Up to 30 mountain rescuers are needed for a competition. “We get an expense allowance for buying equipment, but it’s disproportionate to the effort involved.” Sometimes the organizers would also try to reduce this compensation. Berloffa remembered one mission in the 15 years in particular – because it shows how hard mountain rescue work can be: “In 2017, during thunderstorms and continuous rain, we carried a seriously injured hiker down 800 meters through a gully from Solstein for hours.” He can also count on his deputy Michael Kirchmayer and treasurer Florian Bichteler.
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