Dutch tourists stranded in Romania’s Fagaras Mountains rescued

Two tourists from the Netherlands, who had been stranded since Monday evening in a very steep area of the Fagaras Mountains in central Romania, were rescued by mountain rescuers.

Salvamont Arges rescuers were alerted by other tourists who heard the cries for help from the stranded hikers. The tourists were secured with the hoist and lifted by helicopter from the dangerous area.

"The call came at 10:59 from a tourist who had left the valley specifically to call 112, stating that cries for help could be heard from the steep left side of Valea lui Stan. Mountain rescuers on duty at Cota 2000 Transfagarasan were deployed, as well as rescuers alerted from home, along with the SMURD POA Brasov helicopter," according to official sources cited by HotNews.

Attempts were made to approach the helicopter to the wall where the victims and the Arges mountain rescuers were located, but the extraction with the hoist was unsuccessful because the mountain rescuers had not yet reached the victims on the wall. Under these circumstances, it was necessary for the helicopter to return for refueling and come back with a mountain rescuer from Zarnesti, who boarded during refueling and was prepared for hoisting.

"There are no landing zones in the Valea lui Stan area, and it would have taken a long time for one of the mountain rescuers to reach a suitable landing spot," the rescuers explained.

The stranded Dutch tourists were secured and prepared for hoisting and were extracted one by one.

"They had been stranded on the wall since last night, but they did not have the opportunity to notify anyone. Both victims have been extracted and are safe," the rescue team said.

(Photo source: Salvamont Arges on Facebook)