Enraged mountain rescuers

Search underway for alpinists after avalanche

Helicopters flew the emergency services to the avalanche on Sunday morning, which broke loose in the area of the Tristkopf.(Bild: Bergrettung Westendorf)

The Tyrolean emergency services could have saved themselves this search operation. A stranger triggered an avalanche in the Kitzbühel Alps on Sunday morning and escaped. He then made off without reporting the happy ending. An extensive search was the result.

The avalanche was reported shortly after 10 am in the rear Kelchsau. An alpinist was on the so-called Tristkopf (2361 meters) on the north side in the so-called "Kurzen Grund" on the border to Salzburg. An avalanche broke loose there in the alpine terrain. Guests at the Neue Bamberger Hütte had seen the avalanche and the person and raised the alarm.

Large-scale operation launched
Two helicopters were deployed in the area, and the mountain rescue teams from Hopfgarten and Westendorf with a total of 15 men, three mountain rescue dog handlers and two Alpine police officers were also brought to the scene of the accident. Initially, fog prevented helicopter flights, but then the emergency helicopters Martin 7 and Heli 3 were able to bring the forces to the avalanche.

The all-clear was given shortly after midday. "We searched the avalanche, which was around 100 meters wide and just as long, with dogs, the Recco system and avalanche transceivers, but didn't find anyone," explains Anton Ager from Westendorf Mountain Rescue.

On the one hand, the emergency services were naturally happy that there were no buried victims. On the other hand, they were annoyed about the person suspected of causing the avalanche. "One person triggered it, but was able to escape, as exit tracks show," explains Ager in an interview with the "Krone" newspaper. Instead of reporting the happy ending, however, the unknown person made off. The large, elaborate and cost-intensive search operation began.

One person triggered the avalanche, but was able to escape, as exit tracks show

Anton Ager, Bergrettung Westendorf

Seriously injured man flown to hospital
It was only on Saturday that a German man (45) was swept away by an avalanche on the Pitztal Glacier and seriously injured. He and his brother (51) were skiing in open terrain and triggered a slab avalanche at around 3050 meters above sea level. The 45-year-old was caught.

He was treated by the crew of the Martin 8 emergency helicopter at the avalanche cone and then flown to the hospital in Innsbruck with serious injuries. His brother then continued downhill, triggering another avalanche, but was not buried thanks to the airbag. He then skied down to the valley on his own, where the mountain rescue team picked him up in Taschachtal. He had refused several offers to be flown out.

Avalanche danger remains considerable in parts of Tyrol
As already reported, the risk of avalanches has increased in many parts of Tyrol due to the amount of fresh snow over the past few days. In the Stubai Alps and also in East Tyrol, danger level 3 (considerable) applies in many valleys and above the tree line.

In the Kitzbühel Alps, the danger level is 1 (low), above the tree line it is level 2 (moderate). According to the avalanche warning service of the province of Tyrol, the avalanche danger is decreasing.