Climbing
On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, a mountaineer fell down an ice wall at an altitude of around 4,000m (13,123ft) near the peak of Jungfrau in Switzerland. The mountaineer was part of a climbing group and plummeted around 40-50m (131-164ft) near the Rottalsattel ridge.
Difficult weather conditions hampered rescue efforts and the rescue helicopter was unable to land near the injured person due to thick fog. After a first reconnaissance flight, the Air Glacier rescue helicopter decided to drop the rescue team about 100m (328ft) below the fog-line. The rescue team made their way on foot to the injured mountaineer. Due to the extent of the injuries, a second helicopter had to be called with a specialist emergency doctor and a mountain guide, to get the climber ready for transport. The injured mountaineer was taken down below the fog-line by means of a rescue sled and then taken to the Inselspital Bern.
The rescue was extremely dangerous for the rescue team as wind gusts of up to 100 km/h (62.5 miles/h) were occurring at the Jungfrau peak. The fog drifting in and out further added difficulty to this helicopter rescue. Helicopters used for the rescue were two Airbus H125e by Air Glaciers, rescue crews were supplied by the Mountain Club Lauterbrunnen (Alpine Rettungsstation Lauterbrunnen).
Two months ago Polish mountaineer Kacper Tekieli died in the same region, when he was skiing down from the peak of the Jungfrau mountain and was caught in an avalanche.
