Danger of frostbite!

Search dog rescues senior citizen stuck in dung heap

From left: Jason Tevon, Sebastian Berger (kneeling with "Bailey"), Dieter Palmberger and Kurt Hohenwallner(Bild: Suchhunde Rotes Kreuz Oberösterreich)

After a two-hour night-time operation, the search dog team of the Upper Austrian Red Cross was able to save the life of a senior citizen with dementia who had gone missing in Linz-Urfahr. He was stuck in a pile of manure and would probably have frozen to death in the freezing cold without help.

"We were called by the police to Linz Urfahr at around 8.30 p.m. to look for an elderly man with dementia. He had last been seen at around 4pm. After the first searches were unsuccessful following a missing person report at 6.30 p.m., we were called in with the ÖRHB Austrian Rescue Dog Brigade Upper Austria Provincial Group to provide support," reported the Upper Austrian Red Cross search dogs.

The large-scale operation kept numerous helpers busy.(Bild: Suchhunde Rotes Kreuz Oberösterreich)

14 dog teams were deployed
Within a very short time, 14 dog teams and 16 helpers as well as the drone squadron and a command vehicle were on site. A good two hours later, the relieving radio message came: "Person found." The person they were looking for was stuck in a pile of manure behind a farm and was unable to free himself.

"Bailey" had the right nose
"After dog handler Sebastian Berger with 'Bailey' and his helper Dieter Plamberger were able to locate the severely hypothermic person, surrounding search teams were also called out and assisted with patient care until the arrival of the emergency services," said the search dog team.

Admitted to hospital
After first aid, the man was taken to hospital. In the current temperatures, he would probably not have survived the night.