80-year-old missing

Night-time search for senior citizen at minus ten degrees

Numerous emergency services took part in the search.(Bild: ZOOM Tirol)

It was a race against time in the current bitterly cold temperatures: on Tuesday night, a search was carried out in the Tyrolean lowlands for an 80-year-old man who had not returned home from an outing. In the end, it was tracks in the snow that led to the hypothermic man at around midnight.

At around 8.15 pm on Monday evening, relatives had reported the 80-year-old local man missing. The pensioner had left his home in Kolsassberg (Innsbruck-Land district) in the afternoon. He had not returned. He could not be reached either.

Drones were used
The fire department, police and rescue services then launched a major search operation. Drones were also used.

Tracks led to an alpine hut
After hours of searching in freezing temperatures, two firefighters finally discovered tracks in the snow that led to an alpine hut. Around midnight, the missing 80-year-old was found there in an open room. At the time, it was almost minus ten degrees. The man was hypothermic, but otherwise apparently uninjured.

Large contingent of emergency services
The emergency services brought the senior citizen to the valley, where he was taken to Hall Hospital for further medical clarification. The Kolsassberg fire department, the Innsbruck professional fire department and the Swarovski company fire department with two drones, several police patrols including service dogs and the rescue service were deployed.