Abandoned route

Police helicopter had to fly three Belgians down into the valley

The 2024 hiking season is already in full swing in Austria. This also means that some mountain enthusiasts overestimate themselves and their abilities. If they can neither go forwards nor backwards, the only option is to call the mountain rescue service and then be rescued by helicopter. Three Belgians also had to be rescued in Lech am Arlberg (Vorarlberg) on Wednesday afternoon.

Three men aged between 24 and 26 intended to hike from Lake Formarinsee to the Göppingerhütte and on to Lech on Wednesday afternoon. According to the police, the trio decided to leave the path when they could no longer venture any further on the hiking trail on the south side of the Johannesköpfe due to the steepness and old snow fields.

The path became steeper and steeper
They then climbed further up to a rocky ledge. When the path there became even steeper and more impassable, the three hikers no longer dared to continue and made an emergency call.

"Dragonfly" had to climb up to rescue them
The men eventually had to be rescued by the "Libelle" police helicopter using a rope and flown to a nearby hut. The hikers were all uninjured, according to the police.