High penalties

Misuse of distress signals: this is how expensive a “hoax” can be

The search in Pertisau went on for hours that night.(Bild: ZOOM.TIROL)

Mysterious cries for help in Pertisau on Lake Achensee in Tyrol led to a major search operation a week ago, which ended in vain. A "prankster" could be behind it. It would not be the first case of this kind. What such "pranksters" don't know: If they are caught, they face severe penalties.

Mountain rescuers with search dogs, police forces with a drone and a police helicopter with a thermal imaging camera, which flew to Lake Achensee from Klagenfurt: It was a large and expensive deployment of people, animals and technology following mysterious nocturnal calls for help in Pertisau.