A 60‑year‑old German tourist was nearly killed by a misguided cold‑plunge in the Karkonosze mountains near Śnieżka on Thursday, Nov. 20, but was rescued and air‑lifted to a hospital.
Misguided Cold‑Plunge in the Karkonosze
On Nov. 20, a 60‑year‑old German tourist trekked to the Domu Śląskiego refuge at 1,400 m on the Czech‑Polish border near Śnieżka. Despite a wind‑blasted, highly humid day with a measured temperature of about –5 °C, she chose to go into the mountains without suitable clothing, intending to toughen herself. The extreme conditions lowered the perceived air temperature to about –16 °C.
Rapid Drop in Body Temperature
During the excursion, the woman’s core temperature plummeted to 28 °C, causing her to lose consciousness. Polish and Czech rescue teams arrived on scene and found her in a critical state. Immediate medical intervention was required.
Rescue and Medical Response
Rescuers air‑lifted the patient to a lower location where a helicopter could land and then transported her to a hospital. Czech services urged people to exercise caution in the Karkonosze area.
