72-year-old missing hiker rescued after 48‑hour search on Germany's Fellhorn

A 72‑year‑old man with dementia went missing on Thursday afternoon while walking between Fellhorn and Alpe Bierenwang in the German Alps. His wife lost sight of him, prompting the police in Vorarlberg and mountain rescue teams to launch a search around 17:30.

Approximately 60 rescuers from Bergwacht Oberstdorf, Bergrettung Riezlern, police units, several dog teams, and a technical team combed the area on foot, with drones and helicopters from Germany and Austria. Nightfall and thunderstorms forced two temporary suspensions of the operation.

On Saturday at 11:15, a police helicopter equipped with a thermal‑imaging camera located the man off the main paths. A rescue doctor and a mountain rescuer were lowered to the site, and the man was air‑lifted to safety with only minor injuries.