Dramatic national first: German father and son rescued from Romanian cliff face

A dramatic rescue operation in Romania's Bucegi Mountains saw two German mountaineers, a father and son who are also mountain rescuers, safely brought down from the challenging Peretele Văii Albe cliff face on Saturday. The complex mission, described as a national first, utilized a helicopter and the Lezard system for an aerial extraction directly from the sheer rock.

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They wouldn't have believed that such helicopter rescues are possible in Romania, perhaps only in Switzerland.

Images captured by helmet cameras worn by the Prahova mountain rescuers involved in the operation vividly illustrate the mission's difficulty. The helicopter had to maneuver at close proximity to the rock wall, while rescuers were winched down to reach the stranded climbers. The German father and son, experienced in mountain rescue themselves, were reportedly astonished by the level of aerial rescue capabilities demonstrated in Romania.

"They wouldn't have believed that such helicopter rescues are possible in Romania, perhaps only in Switzerland," recounted Prahova rescuer Sergiu Frusinoiu. He added, "We are evolving," in response to their surprise.

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We are evolving.

The rescue was particularly challenging due to the narrow, cave-like area where the climbers were trapped and the sudden onset of rain and thunder. Rescuer Sergiu Frusinoiu described the intricate process of being winched into the tight space, drilling anchors, and securing the climbers amidst the storm. After successfully bringing the two men to the base of the cliff, a rainbow appeared as the rain stopped, allowing the helicopter to resume operations and extract the first climber, with Frusinoiu then assisting the second.

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The helicopter very close to the wall, requesting the pilots, the winch cable very long, requesting the winch operator, and a very narrow area, rather a cave where I had to enter perfectly for us to succeed.

Salvamont Prahova highlighted the operation as a significant achievement, marking the first time the Lezard system was employed for an aerial rescue directly from a rock face in Romania. This successful mission showcases the advancing technical skills and equipment available to Romanian mountain rescue teams.

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It starts raining. Drizzling. Enough to make its way into the most shaded parts of the body while I'm drilling and building anchors to the sound of thunder. After a lot of work and technical maneuvers, I manage to bring the two to safety at the base of the wall, at which point a beautiful rainbow appears and the rain stops. The helicopter can work again, and so my colleague Andrei is winched and extracts the first victim, leaving me the task of getting out the second.