81-year-old triggers police operation with helicopter
The search for an 81-year-old man in the Oder-Spree district has triggered a major police operation. After several hours of searching - including by helicopter - the man was found safe and sound but suffering from severe hypothermia, as the police announced on Sunday.
According to the information, the senior citizen had informed the Berlin police on Saturday that he had become stuck in a meadow in Brandenburg. Due to his confused state, he was unable to give any precise information about his location and asked for help.
Thanks to a cell phone tracking system authorized by the family, his location could then be pinpointed in the Freienbrink area near Grünheide (Oder-Spree). A police helicopter was requested because of the darkness.
After a major operation involving several hours of searching on the ground and in the air and the Brandenburg helicopter being replaced in the meantime by one from the Berlin police, the man was finally found. Because he had fallen into a stream in the meantime, he was severely hypothermic. He was treated on site by rescue workers.
Despite the man's safe recovery, the incident underscores the importance of emergency response teams, particularly during harsh weather conditions. In instances of potential emergencies, prompt communication and accurate information are crucial for effective search and rescue operations.
Source: www.dpa.com
