Rescuers save two girls from a dangerous fall near Strubklamm

Mountain rescuers saved two 14-year-old girls who slipped down a steep wooded slope near Ebenau in Salzburg province and were at risk of falling further, ORF reported.

Emergency services were called at about 12.30am on Monday. The girls had slid around 50 metres towards the Strubklamm gorge and came to rest in a gully on unstable ground. They were injured, wet and suffering from the cold, according to the rescue team leader.

A firefighter from the Ebenau volunteer fire brigade rappelled down to the girls and secured them. Mountain rescuers then reached them, provided first aid and used a vacuum mattress, mountain stretcher and rope-hauling system to bring them up towards the road. The Red Cross took them to hospital.

The rescue leader said the girls were fortunate not to have slipped further and were also exposed to falling rocks. Twelve mountain rescuers from the Salzburg unit, the Ebenau volunteer fire brigade, police and the Red Cross took part. The operation ended at about 3am. It is not known why the girls were in the steep wooded area so late at night.