Police rescue hikers in Gosau after exhaustion and navigation errors

Police in Gosau, Austria, conducted helicopter rescues for two separate groups of hikers on Saturday evening due to exhaustion and navigation errors.

A Czech family, consisting of a father, his partner, and their ten-year-old daughter, was rescued from the Großer Donnerkogel via via ferrata. After reaching the summit, the group mistakenly turned toward Strichkogel at a junction around 2,000 meters. Due to the worsening exhaustion of the child, the family requested emergency assistance and was flown safely to the valley.

In a separate incident, a group of four hikers from the Czech Republic was rescued from the Traunstein. The group had attempted to use an unmarked path suggested by a hiking app but became lost and exhausted.

Authorities noted that heat and reliance on hiking applications have contributed to a significant increase in mountain rescue calls. In July, 75 alarms were recorded, more than double the 33 calls registered during the same period the previous year.