DRK Mountain Rescue Trains Ski Lift Rescue - Ski lift breakdown in Eibenstock tests rescue teams’ rapid response
A ski lift in Eibenstock, Ore Mountains, suddenly stopped, stranding passengers. Rescue teams swiftly responded to the emergency, aiming to reach the scene within 30 minutes.
The incident occurred at a popular winter sports destination, Eibenstock, situated between 650 and 700 meters above sea level. The ski lift, one of the 40-plus in Saxony's 67 ski areas, came to an abrupt halt, leaving skiers stranded on the chairlift.
Rescue teams, including the German Red Cross Mountain Rescue Service and the fire department, were called in for a training exercise. They climbed the support poles to reach the cable and the stranded skiers. Each passenger was secured in a rescue harness and lowered to safety on a rope. Remarkably, the equipment could support up to 250 kilograms, allowing children to be lowered together with their parents.
The training exercise was a success, with rescue teams demonstrating their ability to respond efficiently to such emergencies. Eibenstock, with its elevation and popular ski lifts, remains a safe destination for winter sports enthusiasts, thanks to the preparedness of its rescue services.
