As the police reported, the 31-year-old Norwegian and his 29-year-old companion from Russia set off on a multi-day tour on Saturday afternoon. Since telephone contact with the men was lost, the partner of one of the hikers filed a police report on Monday morning.
Mountain rescue and helicopters in action
During a search operation, the two missing people were found in the Schlummsteig area shortly before 2 p.m. Both hikers were injured and said they fell on the steep climb to Schlummsee. Since their cell phones were no longer working, the two probably stayed in a tent and sleeping bag for the two nights to wait for help, said a police spokeswoman. One injured person was carried into the valley by mountain rescue, the second was flown into the valley by police helicopter. The rescue took the hikers to the hospital.
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**Interview with Police Spokeswoman Anna Keller on Recent Mountain Rescue Operation**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Anna. Can you provide us with a brief overview of the recent rescue operation involving the missing hikers?
**Anna Keller:** Absolutely. On Saturday afternoon, a 31-year-old Norwegian and his 29-year-old Russian companion embarked on a multi-day hiking tour. Unfortunately, contact was lost with them, prompting the partner of one of the hikers to report them missing to the authorities on Monday morning.
**Interviewer:** What actions did the police and rescue teams take once the report was made?
**Anna Keller:** Once alerted, we initiated a search operation in the Schlummsteig area. Teams were deployed on foot, and we also utilized helicopters to cover a larger area more quickly. Thankfully, just before 2 p.m. on Monday, we located the two men.
**Interviewer:** What condition were they in when found?
**Anna Keller:** Both hikers had sustained injuries from a fall during their steep ascent to Schlummsee. They reported that after losing cell phone reception, they made the difficult decision to stay in a tent and sleeping bag for two nights while waiting for assistance.
**Interviewer:** How did the rescue proceed after they were found?
**Anna Keller:** One hiker required a stretcher for transport and was carried down by our mountain rescue team, while the second, who was in a critical condition, was airlifted out by a police helicopter. Our teams worked quickly to ensure both men were given the medical attention they needed.
**Interviewer:** What advice do you have for hikers to avoid similar situations in the future?
**Anna Keller:** We always encourage hikers to prepare adequately before heading out. This includes informing someone of your planned route and expected return time, carrying a charged mobile phone with a backup power source, and ensuring you have the appropriate gear for unforeseen circumstances. Safety should always be the top priority.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Anna, and thank you to all the rescue teams involved in this operation.
**Anna Keller:** Thank you for having me, and we appreciate your effort in spreading awareness about hiking safety.
