Two tourists were rescued in the night on Monte Baldo, one of whom was in critical hypothermia. The Spanish hikers, aged 35 and 36, were stranded by the snow at an altitude of 1750 meters.
The intervention by the Verona Alpine Rescue was very difficult due to adverse weather conditions. The rescuers were activated shortly before 7 pm on Monday after the two hikers were reported missing along trail 5, on the lake side of Monte Baldo. Due to the ongoing snowfall and lack of visibility, the Verona emergency helicopter was unable to approach.
A team then began the ascent on foot to reach the tourists. Communications during the operation were complicated due to poor radio and phone coverage. The Central informed the rescuers that both hikers were very cold and not wearing appropriate clothing for the freezing temperatures.
Around 11:30 pm, the first team managed to reach them and found that the situation was critical: one of the two men was on the ground, conscious but immobile. Meanwhile, a second team with a doctor and nurse was approaching as closely as possible with off-road vehicles and quads. The rescuers provided the hikers with down jackets and thermal blankets to warm them up.
Due to the fresh snow and strong gusts of wind, the Trento helicopter authorized for night flights was unable to approach. The station doctor, who had climbed on foot, found that the patient’s condition had worsened. Additional forces were then mobilized for transportation down to the valley.
Fortunately, at 3:20 am, a break in the bad weather allowed the arrival of the Trentino helicopter, which used the winch to retrieve the most seriously injured tourist and immediately transport him to Santa Chiara Hospital. In a second rotation, the helicopter returned to pick up the companion.
The teams returned on their own around 8:30 am.
Italian Version
