Mountain guard in the Harz: 44 missions in the first half of 2023! Safety endangered!

Mountain guard in the Harz: 44 missions in the first half of 2023! Safety endangered!

Wernigerode, Deutschland - The Harz is a magnet for hikers and not only offers breathtaking landscapes, but also adventure and challenges. Every year this region attracts thousands of nature lovers who want to explore the idyllic paths and untouched nature. But as often in nature, there are also dark sides: numerous accidents and dangerous situations are not uncommon. In the first half of 2023, the Harzer Bergwacht in Saxony-Anhalt has already performed 44 missions, with 27 of these missions in Wernigerode and 17 in Thale. This shows the importance of the mountain rescue service, which now attracts attention. News38 reports .

In the first six months of 2023, the mountain rescue service not only fished hikers, but also mountain bike drivers and climbers in need. Among other things, there were three air rescues in which the mountain rescue service in the region was supported by a police helicopter. An accident ended tragically when a mountain bike driver without a protective helmet at the Gelber Brink mountain pass accident after a serious fall. In addition, a climber who crashed about ten meters on the Große Feuerstein was recovered seriously injured. Matthias Kirmann von der Bergwacht found that the equipment of many hikers, climbers and cyclists was usually good, but there are always reckless ones who openly opened and inadequate, for example in sneakers and without a jacket.

The statistics do not lie

The numbers speak for themselves. According to MDR , the Harzer Bergwacht is more than once a week. This shows that the potential for emergencies in the region is steadily high. It is not only wandering people who are in difficulties; Children and supervisors have also run in rough areas, as an incident shows in which six children and their supervisors had to be saved.

The situation was no different, especially in 2024: the Harzer mountain rescue service recorded about ten missions per month, a total of 140 rescue operations. 118 injured help could be provided, although tragic individual cases, such as the recovery of a deceased adolescent after a fall, shaped the picture. Explained the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung The dimensions of these missions, which are often caused by emergency when hiking or mountain biking.

Our heroes of the mountain guard

The Harz mountain rescue service, the northernmost mountain rescue guard in Germany and part of the German Red Cross, consists of a total of ten groups in Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony. The main groups in Thale and Wernigerode as well as a support group in Halberstadt are located in Saxony-Anhalt. Around 120 men and women are involved in the mountain rescue service, with 46 actively in use. A bright spot is the youth group, which currently has twelve members and thus form a new generation of rescuers.

In order to be prepared for the challenges in the mountain rescue, the emergency services regularly take part in further training. Not only is the craftsmanship set up, but also knowledge of nature conservation and medicine. And the tips to the hikers are clear: solid footwear, suitable clothing and sufficient water are mandatory. A fully charged cell phone can be decisive in an emergency situation to quickly call help.

nature is a wonderful place, which also requires respect. Therefore it means: prepare well, security is going on - because it is known to be faster than you think!