Missing tourist rescued after days in the wilderness

A tourist who had not been heard from since Saturday evening was successfully rescued this morning after an extensive search operation led by the Seyðisfjörður rescue team Ísólfur. Additional rescue teams—Sveinungur from Borgarfjörður Eystri, Gerpir from Norðfjörður, and the crew of the rescue ship Hafbjörg—joined the effort as the search expanded.

Last seen on Saturday

The man was last heard from on Saturday when he was dropped off near a farmhouse in Seyðisfjörður, where he claimed he would be staying. However, concerns grew when he failed to make contact for several days. Search teams discovered fresh footprints stretching along the northern side of Seyðisfjörður, prompting them to focus their efforts along the coastline and towards Loðmundarfjörður.

Challenging conditions and a critical discovery

Due to difficult communication in the area, Hafbjörg played a key role in relaying signals for search operations. As the rescue boat from Ísólfur and Hafbjörg entered Loðmundarfjörður, rescuers spotted an object resembling a backpack on the shore. Investigating further, Hafbjörg turned around while the Ísólfur rescue boat made its way ashore.

Just as the crew of Hafbjörg launched a drone to scan the area, rescuers spotted the missing man standing on a rock, waving desperately for help.

A joyous rescue

“It’s safe to say the rescuers were overjoyed to see the man safe and sound,” the report states.

The Ísólfur rescue boat picked him up and transferred him to Hafbjörg, which was anchored nearby. Despite the rugged terrain, the rescue team skillfully maneuvered the boat into a small notch in the rocks, allowing the man to board with relative ease.

Once aboard, the exhausted traveler was given hot soup and an energy drink to replenish his strength. He had been stranded since Sunday, enduring freezing temperatures as low as -2°C without a sleeping bag or tent.

Survival against the odds

The man recounted his ordeal, explaining that he had no food and had survived by foraging for edible herbs and drinking water. He had attempted to signal passing fishing boats with a flashlight, but to no avail. When he saw the approaching rescue ship and boat, he knew he was finally saved.

He was transported to Neskaupstaður and taken to the hospital for medical evaluation.

A successful mission

The Landsbjörg Accident Prevention Association emphasized the dedication and skill of the rescue teams in locating and safely retrieving the tourist, highlighting the challenges of the operation in such remote and rugged terrain.