Man Rescued in Highlands After Long Search
From the search area. Photo/ICE-SAR
More than 250 rescue workers participated last night in the search for a foreign tourist who sent out an emergency signal from the highlands around 5 pm yesterday. The man was traveling alone.
After searching for hours, rescue workers found the man shortly before midnight on Mælifellssandur sand plain, on the southern Fjallabak route, north of Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
According to Davíð Már Bjarnason, communications director for ICE-SAR, the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, the man was very cold by the time he was found. He was found somewhat outside the area from which the emergency signal was sent.
A helicopter from the Icelandic Coast Guard participated in the search, bringing along search and rescue dogs and supplies. Due to inclement weather, the helicopter could not take off until 10 pm.
Specialized equipment, such as modified 4x4s and snowmobiles, were used in the search effort as well. Conditions for searching were very difficult: large amounts of snow and meltwater in the area that was searched, and freezing temperatures.
