Emergency call on the mountain

Cell phone app led hikers into dangerous territory

A couple had to be rescued from a very difficult situation by a police helicopter on Sunday in Tyrol. The hikers had trusted a cell phone app and ended up in dangerous terrain near Gnadenwald. 

At around 10 a.m., the woman and her husband (both 42) set off from the sports field in Gnadenwald on a hike up the Walder Joch. They chose an old path that was marked on a cell phone app.

What they didn't know was that the path gets lost in the steep terrain. After three hours of climbing, the hikers suddenly found themselves above a huge rockfall. There was no path to be seen for miles around.

The couple had no choice but to make an emergency call. Six mountain rescuers climbed up to the lost hikers and the Libelle police helicopter was requested. Using a rope, the hikers were finally rescued unharmed.