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Hiker airlifted from Poland's highest peak after overnight ordeal

22.04.2025 16:40
Polish mountain rescuers airlifted a man from the summit of Rysy, the highest peak in Poland, at dawn on Tuesday after he was unable to descend and spent the night there waiting for help.
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photoCredits: Pixaby.com/CC0

The tourist, uninjured, contacted the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue (TOPR) center in Zakopane at 8:40 p.m. on Monday. He reported that, after reaching the summit of Rysy, he began descending but realized he could not continue and returned to the top to wait until morning, according to a duty rescuer from TOPR, quoted by the Polish state news agency PAP.

Despite favorable weather over the Easter weekend, rescuers responded to several serious incidents, including a woman who fell from a trail and a man who injured himself with crampons, often deploying helicopters.

Authorities caution that snow and ice above the tree line remain hazardous, emphasizing the need for winter mountaineering experience and proper gear, such as crampons, ice axes, and avalanche equipment. 

(m p)

Source: IAR/PAP/X/@tvp3krakow