After days of joint Polish‑Slovak search, rescuers found the body of a 55‑year‑old Polish tourist in the Tatra Mountains near the Gaborowa Valley on October 23.
Recovery of the Body
Rescuers accompanied by a dog located the 55‑year‑old’s body in the Tatras, about 150 metres below Bystrá, on Thursday, October 23. The man likely slipped and fell, sustaining fatal injuries, according to Slovak rescuers.
The body was extracted using rope equipment and thereafter transported on stretchers to the Raczkowa Valley. It was handed over to authorities and a doctor who conducted examinations.
Timeline of the Search
The tourist was reported missing several days after he left by boat, and both Polish and Slovak services participated in the search.
On Monday, October 20, the 55‑year‑old climbed Bystrá, the highest peak of the Western Tatras. His last contact with family, around 13:00, was a photo sent from the summit. Since then no further communication occurred; his car was found on the Slovak side of the border.
Search operations commenced on Tuesday, with joint Polish and Slovak teams looking for him.
Details of the Incident
Rescuers suggest the fatal fall resulted from a slip on the rocky terrain below Bystrá. No other contributory factors were mentioned.
Mountain Conditions Warning
The Tatra National Park issued a statement on Thursday warning of harsh conditions in the mountains, noting strong winds that can break branches and trees, ice and hard snow above 1800 m, and slippery, wet forest floors with mud.
It advised that winter mountaineering in higher parts of the Tatras requires experience and proper equipment (crampons, ice axe, helmet) along with the skills to use them, and cautioned against excursions today.
