So you can read how the rescue went from first hand and why they had to stop the rescue on the first day.
Written by GRS Bohinj members: We are sure you are already well informed about our demanding Sunday and half Monday. But in the following lines you will get the view through the eyes of the mountain rescuers who were part of this intervention.
On Sunday morning the view through the window promised a day suitable for lounging. Into the relaxing sound of raindrops soon cut the sharp sound of the pager. The bunch of letters on it forming "Avalanche carried away three hikers under Tosec" surely no one expected. At home we had to dig out winter gear from the back of the closet and really hurry to the station. Hurry.
We haven't had so much gear in cars for a long time and we really wanted to push through to Konjščica with them to save at least some of the way. With some detours in the form of trees across the road we succeeded.
At Konjščica we stepped into a winter fairy tale, but so what, when we weren't there to enjoy it, but because of very serious matters. Together with colleagues from Radovljica we had to literally break through freshly fallen and drifted snow, which to the lead man, at not so rare moments, reached "jošk", as we say in jargon. After a two-hour calvary we finally reached the accident site, secured the witnesses and started activities that enabled about twenty rescuers access to the gully.
Conditions were really demanding. At first practically nothing was visible, it was snowing, we were soaked from snow and sweat, the wind was blowing just enough to make many moan outright, muscles shaking to keep "life" at least around 37 degrees. All of it additionally "spiced up" by spontaneous slab avalanches, which the afternoon sun further intensified.
Just as we located the first casualty, a chill ran through the "gullyers" in the form of the scream AVALANCHE!!!. In a gully you can't properly get out of the way, so in a few seconds everyone found themselves as they knew how and hoped it would pass quickly. Luckily we all stayed in our places and continued with the excavation. That was also a sign for us that the situation had become too dangerous and we had to stop the action. At the end of the day we are also men, sons, daughters, fathers and mothers.
We quickly prepared the casualty for helicopter transport, and the last of us were transported to the valley already in pitch darkness.
Today we continued the rescue early in the morning. The helicopter took us to the foot of the gully. Based on what we saw the previous day we concluded that there was the highest probability that the remaining missing persons were there. Our hunches proved correct. Soon after arrival our dog team member found the first one, shortly after that we found the second one during probing. Sadly it was no longer possible to help either of them.
We are still gathering our thoughts about all this, the scenes and feelings are still very vivid and we will mull them over for some time. We must thank our colleagues from Gorska reševalna služba Radovljica, Gorska reševalna služba Jesenice, and the dog handlers who assisted us in this demanding rescue. We extend sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. Finally, we can't end without the advice that we have shared with you already (too) many times: think about when, why and how you set off into the mountains, not for our sake but for those waiting for you at home. Safe!