Rila Mountains rescue operation lasts 17 hours

A rescue operation in one of the most inaccessible areas of the Rila Mountains lasted over 17 hours to evacuate an injured tourist. Due to the extremely difficult terrain near Chernigov Lake—characterized by steep slopes, rocks, scree, and dense vegetation—mountain rescuers determined that transport via stretcher was practically impossible.

To facilitate the evacuation, the Mountain Rescue Service requested assistance from the Bulgarian Air Force's 24th Air Base. Because the terrain lacked a wide enough area for a helicopter to land, the victim was hoisted out using a winch.

Rescuers noted that the operation successfully applied training from a joint exercise conducted two months prior. The injured tourist, who was traveling with friends, suffered life-threatening injuries. The rescue team's doctor determined that the individual could not remain in the mountains until morning, necessitating the aerial extraction.