A British man has been seriously injured after falling off a mountain while trying to take a photo on a notorious rope ladder dubbed "the stairway to heaven" with mountain rescue services needing three helicopters for a risky night-time manoeuvre to save his life.
The 21-year-old man, who has not been named, slipped while attempting to take pictures of his friends on the so-called "Himmelsleiter" or "ladder to the heavens" a notorious attraction near the town of Annaberg im Lammertal in the province of Salzburg, Austria.
According to police, the man had somehow removed his safety harness in order to take a photograph of his companions when he slipped and fell, apparently plunging 15 metres (50 feet) to the ground and then continuing to fall for another 25 metres (81 feet) before coming to a stop.
Local district mayor Werner Quehenberger said: "He was incredibly lucky that he actually stopped after 40 metres [131 feet] and didn't carry on falling."
He said that the British man had suffered multiple injuries including, severe back injuries.
Picture shows the rescue of the British man, undated. He had fallen about 15 meters at the so-called skyscraper near Annaberg in Lammertal, Austria. Note: Photo from rescue service. (Annaberg Mountain Rescue/CEN)
He would not have survived if rescuers had had to wait for an ambulance to take him to hospital, according the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service.
Because of the severity of his injuries, rescuers realised that they needed a helicopter but because of the rapidly vanishing light and strong winds, they opted for a helicopter with special equipment to be flown in from Carinthia.
In the meanwhile, two other helicopters including the emergency rescue helicopter Martin 1“, and the police helicopter "Libelle" took the team of rescuers to the spot so that the man could be moved to a position where the third helicopter could bring him aboard.
Picture shows the rescue of the British man, undated. He had fallen about 15 meters at the so-called skyscraper near Annaberg in Lammertal, Austria. Note: Photo from rescue service. (@ARA.Flugrettung.RK1/CEN)
The move was necessary because the ladder, which stretches 40 metres (131 feet) through the air, was too close to the helicopter needed to hover in order to winch him aboard.
The Brit was stabilised as much as possible by a team of alpine rescuers who used ropes and a helicopter to extract him from the steep climbing route.
The rescue involved a large-scale operation with several mountain rescue specialists and emergency services working together under challenging conditions.
Photos show the man being secured by ropes as medics and alpine police work to lift him to safety.
Picture shows the rescue of the British man, undated. He had fallen about 15 meters at the so-called skyscraper near Annaberg in Lammertal, Austria. Note: Photo from rescue service. (Annaberg Mountain Rescue/CEN)
A spokesperson for the Salzburg Mountain Rescue Service said the area is popular with hikers and climbers, but also dangerous for those who underestimate the terrain.
He said: "People are often drawn to these ladders for the thrill and for social media pictures, but the risk of falling is extremely high."
This latest incident has renewed calls for clearer signage and stricter access regulations to prevent further accidents.
(MJ Leidig/newsX)