Ski tourers injured in an avalanche on the Hochkönig
The avalanche danger increased in Salzburg’s mountains on Monday with the emerging north-west wind and due to snowdrift accumulations during the course of the day.
A 42-year-old ski tourer was injured when a slab of snow fell around 11 a.m. in the Birgkar on the Hochkönig massif. The man from Salzburg was rescued from the scene of the accident by the police helicopter Libelle and then flown to the hospital with a rescue helicopter.
The mountaineer from Pinzgau, who was traveling alone, may have injured his leg. In the morning he had climbed over the Erichhütte to the Taghaubenscharte (2,159 meters above sea level) and then descended into the Birgkar, as operations manager Wolfgang Haggenmüller from the Mühlbach am Hochkönig mountain rescue service described to the APA.
A smaller slab of snow broke up on the descent. The skier slipped with the snow and was partially buried. The Pinzgauer was able to free himself and make an emergency call. “He has sustained an ankle injury,” said Haggenmüller. Twelve mountain rescuers from Mühlbach were deployed.
In the morning, the Salzburg avalanche warning service issued avalanche warning level two (moderate) in the Hochkönig area from 1,800 meters above sea level. In the afternoon, the avalanche danger rose to level three (considerable).