NEWS Huge tragedy in the High Tatras: Lightning killed under Kriváň – Topky.sk

“The tourists were struck by lightning during a sudden change in the weather during the hike,” HZS states on its website. The conditions in the mountains made it possible to deploy aviation equipment, therefore the air rescue crew and the Squadron of the Ministry of the Interior (MV) of the Slovak Republic were asked to cooperate in the intervention. “Lightning struck a group of tourists from Poland. A mountain rescuer also joined the helicopter. After arriving at the scene of the accident, he and the doctor were dropped in the field with the help of a winch. There was one man lying motionless on the spot between the rocks, who, unfortunately, did not show any signs of life and the doctor could only declare him dead,” Air-Transport Europe spokeswoman Zuzana Hopjaková said. The second 33-year-old tourist was thrown after the impact, suffering injuries to his face and spine. HZS stated that he could not feel his limbs. “He communicated with the rescuers, but he did not remember the circumstances of the accident and was disoriented,” added Hopjaková. Rescuers prepared him for evacuation from the site using a transport net. During the stopover, the doctor gave him additional treatment and he was subsequently transferred to the Poprad hospital in a stable condition. The mountain rescuers in the field then packed the remains of the poor Pole, which were transported to Štrbské Pleso in cooperation with the Squadron of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic. From there, HZS rescuers transported the corpse in an all-terrain vehicle to Starý Smokovec, where they handed it over to members of the Police Corps and the examining doctor. The HZS notice for tourists also in connection with this case warns tourists to check the weather forecast before the chosen hike, or in the area where the destination of their hike is. “Storm activity increases significantly in the mountains during the summer months. We recommend that visitors to mountain areas start hiking early in the morning and avoid exposed routes from which they have nowhere to escape when storm activity is forecast,” concludes HZS.