Three German climbers reportedly left exhausted 20-year-old in a blizzard on Austrian Alps via ferrata

In brief

• Three young German climbers set out late on a Saturday to climb Hochkönig in Austria despite poor weather warnings.
• A 20-year-old in the group became exhausted at about 2,600 metres, and his two companions continued without him.
• A rescue operation in the blizzard lasted nearly 14 hours, and police are now handling the case.

Warnings ignored on a difficult route

Three young German climbers set out on Saturday afternoon to climb Hochkönig, a 2,941-metre peak in Austria's Eastern Alps. They chose the Königsjodler via ferrata, one of the region's hardest and most spectacular routes. According to reports, they set off too late despite poor weather forecasts and warnings, one of them from a female climber, and pushed on regardless. (Koledzy poszli dalej, 20-latek został w śnieżycy. 14-godzinna akcja ratunkowa w Alpach – RMF24) (Zostawili kolegę na szlaku podczas śnieżycy w Aplach. Akcja ratunkowa trwała 14 godzin – onet.pl)

Friend left behind in the snowstorm

Around 19:00, at roughly 2,600 metres, a 20-year-old in the group became exhausted and chilled and could no longer continue. He called for help.

Rescue and police investigation

The rescue operation in the blizzard lasted nearly 14 hours. The young man was eventually reached. The case of the two climbers who left him is now being handled by police.