High up in the mountain Vågakallen in Lofoten, a mountain climber was badly injured on Saturday. He painfully experienced the risks involved in saving others. He was one of three climbers from the Svolvær Alpine rescue group who had been sent to the mountain to rescue a woman and a man who had gotten stuck, while thick fog hung over the mountain. The rescue group consists of volunteer climbers who step out when someone needs help. They were cold and wet, and the rescue team was in the process of hoisting them up in turn. One climber stood on the ledge, while two stood further up to rescue the two tourists. They had cleared the mountainside as best they could on the way down, to avoid falling rocks. But the rescue operation became highly dramatic when a stone estimated to be between 10 and 20 kilos still came loose on the mountainside. The 943 meter high mountain Vågakallen in Lofoten is a well-known and popular mountain for experienced hikers and climbers. During the rescue operation on Saturday, the clouds were around the peaks. Photo: Marie staberg / news The rescue climbers at the top only managed to shout “rock”. The tourist they hoisted up narrowly escaped, before the rock hurtled straight down towards the climber and the female tourist below. – The stone ricochets down while they are hoisting one person up, and hits one climber in the head, so the helmet is crushed, says Sveinung Bertnes Råheim of the Bodø Alpine Rescue Group. He was one of the climbers who were flown over to Lofoten after they were told that the rescue operation had taken a dramatic turn. The rock, which was estimated to weigh between 10-20 kilos, hit the climber with great force. It shattered the helmet, and left a rough gash in the climber’s head. The helmet of the climber who was injured was hit by a rock during the rescue operation. It happened after he had first pushed the female tourist to safety. – She didn’t have a helmet. Neither of the two who were to be saved had it, says Råheim. Ten volunteer rescue climbers from Svolvær and Bodø took part in the action. Colleagues believe that the quick maneuver when the rock came may have saved the tourist’s life. – He has pushed himself and the patient towards the mountain to avoid the stone, and he has stood at the far end himself and protected the patient, says Råheim. news has today spoken to the rescue climber and, according to the conditions, things are going well. Photo: Svolvær Alpine Rescue Group Left for half a day The climber must have tried to dive away, but it was not enough. It was then that the rescue operation took a completely different turn. It would take over half a day before they were able to rescue him from the mountain – Then the situation changes greatly. They are in a place without flying weather and with an injured climber, explains the leader of the Svolvær Alpine Rescue Group (SARG), Bjørn Kirkhaug. The weather makes everyone cold and wet. A new action, within the action, was launched. – It is the most complex campaign I have been involved in, says Kirkhaug. According to Kirkhaug, it normally takes three hours to climb the mountain. The climbers also brought a lot of heavy equipment. It was therefore a slow operation, but the mountain was eventually filled with people, equipment and food. – We understand that this will be a demanding operation. The weather is uncertain, so we have to plan what happens if the weather forecast doesn’t hit and it takes a long time. At this time, the climber’s condition was unclear. But the other climbers managed to keep him warm. Eventually, rescue personnel with medical expertise arrived. There was a completely different calm at the scene of the accident, explains Kirkhaug. But the fog that lay over the scene of the accident still made the situation precarious. They cannot use a helicopter: – In addition, we lack an overview. Visibility was down to eight meters in the end and then you can’t keep track of what you’re walking down or climbing into. – No one should be left behind It took over fourteen hours before they rescued that climber. While the volunteer rescue teams provided first aid at the scene, the rescue helicopter had to wait until the weather improved. – I have been involved in this for a few years, and it is among the most demanding actions in the mountains that I have been involved in, says Major and Commander Fredrik Jomaas of the 330 squadron. It was a funny feeling for the professional lifeguards. – Of course, no one should stay behind, everyone should go home, this time it stretched out in time, and it was a little too exciting, says colleague and rescuer Lars Oven Pettersen. They praise the alpine rescue teams, who brought tents, primus, heating blankets and kept the patient warm. – I am very impressed by how the climbers are able to provide assistance wherever and whenever. In this campaign, they have made a fantastic effort, says Jomaas. The volunteer rescue teams brought tents, primus and equipment to keep the patients warm while they waited to be rescued. Photo: Svolvær Alpine Rescue Group After the incident, many have reacted to the risk the rescue group is exposed to during such actions. But according to Kirkhaug, there is no basis for saying that they are taking unnecessary risks. – When we bring in people, we think that we have the necessary expertise. And then we never get the risk down to zero, but that’s how it is to be outdoors. The fact that one of the climbers was hit by a rock was sheer bad luck, emphasizes Kirkhaug. – Many of those who react do not have enough knowledge of the mountain to understand what is foolhardy. It’s understandable that people react, but people don’t want to die. People don’t want to take risks that mean they will die. It is in people’s nature, he says.
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Climber pushes tourist away from rock jump on Vågakallen in Lofoten – was hit himself – news Nordland
