German climber rescued after fourteen hour operation in Austrian Alps

Rescuers in Austria saved a 20-year-old German climber at around 2,600 metres above sea level over the weekend after a 14-hour rescue operation, Euronews reported. The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service stated that his two companions left him behind. Gerhard Kremser, district manager of the Pongau Mountain Rescue Service, said the man likely would not have survived another night on the mountain due to the harsh conditions. [1]

According to the rescue service, the trio set off along the Königsjodler trail on the Hochkönig mountain range on Saturday afternoon. They began the ascent despite poor weather forecasts and a warning from another climber, Euronews reported. [1]

The Hochkönig mountain range is part of the Austrian Alps. The Central Eastern Alps, also known as the Austrian Central Alps, form the main chain of the Eastern Alps in Austria and border regions including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, and Slovenia. [1][2]