Three teenagers, two German citizens and one Hungarian, aged 17 and 18, travelled by train from Germany to Lienz for a multi-day hike in the Schobergruppe, in the district of Spittal an der Drau. On Wednesday they left the Wangenitzseehütte at 2,508 metres and headed toward the Petzeck, which rises to 3,238 metres.
Worsening weather led them to abandon the route. They told relatives they were turning back and would descend, after which contact stopped. Relatives tried repeatedly to reach them and, by Thursday evening, called the police because they feared an accident.
An immediate search flight by the police helicopter Libelle found the three in a hut. They had been unable to call their parents because there was no mobile coverage. They then walked down to the valley on their own and unhurt. Also involved were an alpine police officer from the Alpine Einsatzgruppe Spittal/Drau and the Heiligenblut mountain rescue service, which remained on standby.