Rescuers airlift German family after night on mountain
Wednesday 21st October 2026 on 08:45 in
Austria
A German family of six, including four children, was rescued from the Kaiserschild mountain in Styria on Wednesday morning after spending the night stranded there, ORF reported. The rescue was one of three mountain operations in the region overnight.
The family had set out from an alpine resort in Eisenerz on Tuesday morning. They became stuck in difficult terrain near Rotriegel and, unable to continue because of exhaustion, called for help at about 9pm. Their location was identified using their descriptions and mobile phone signals.
About 20 members of the Eisenerz mountain rescue service and Hochsteiermark alpine police climbed to the family in darkness, reaching them shortly before midnight at an altitude of about 1,860 metres. The two adults and four children, aged six to 14, were exhausted and cold. One child had minor injuries.
A mountain rescue doctor treated the family, and rescuers provided thermal packs. A planned descent was halted shortly after midnight because of the steep terrain, darkness, gusty winds and the family’s worsening exhaustion. Several attempts by a rescue helicopter to land were also abandoned because of strong gusts. The family and rescuers spent the night in emergency tents.
After daylight, helicopters operated by police, the Austrian automobile club ÖAMTC and the armed forces took the family members to the valley one by one using a cable.
Two other hikers rescued overnight
In Schladming, a 21-year-old man of Israeli origin lost his way while hiking from the Planai mountain station towards Riesachsee on Tuesday evening. He called for help at about 9.40pm after entering steep, difficult terrain. Mountain rescuers located him at about 1,600 metres and reached him before midnight. He was uninjured and was escorted down over rocky ground.
In the Gesäuse, a 16-year-old from Germany became stranded in darkness while hiking with his parents. After his parents turned back, he continued over Planspitze towards Gstatterboden but appears to have underestimated the route. He called for help and was flown down by rescue helicopter without injury.