Wife raised the alarm

Lost: skier found in the middle of the night

There was great concern on Sunday for a 63-year-old American in St. Anton am Arlberg: after the holidaymaker had not returned to the hotel from skiing, his wife raised the alarm in the evening. A major search operation was launched, which was hampered by adverse weather conditions. In the middle of the night, there was a big sigh of relief.

The 63-year-old from the United States of America had been skiing in St. Anton am Arlberg on Sunday. As he did not return at the agreed time, his wife raised the alarm with the police via the accommodation provider. 

Unsuccessful search operation on ski route
"The officers were able to make contact with the man briefly at around 7 pm. He said he was skiing down to St. Anton on ski route 90," the investigators explain. Alpine police, mountain rescue and the fire department, including a drone, then searched this route. However, there was no trace of the 63-year-old.

As a rescue from St. Anton was not possible due to the weather conditions, the Steeg mountain rescue team was informed.

Die Polizei

After renewed attempts to locate him, the 63-year-old was finally located in the Almajurtal area, north of the ski resort in the municipality of Kaisers in the district of Reutte. "As a rescue from St. Anton was not possible due to the weather conditions, the Steeg mountain rescue team was informed," the investigators continued.

"Exhausted but uninjured"
Some mountain rescuers finally climbed up from the Außerfern side into the Almajur Valley. The 63-year-old missing man was finally found at around 2 a.m. below the Bodenalpe at around 1,540 meters above sea level. "The man was exhausted but uninjured," it says.

The US-American was brought down into the valley to Steeg by the emergency services. From there, he took the bus back to St. Anton on Monday morning.