FIVE HIKERS RECOVERED IN A RESCUE OPERATION IN THE PROTECTED AREA OF THE STRICT RESERVE “BIJELE AND SAMARSKE STIJENE”

Shortly before noon on 1 March 2009, a call came through
the 112 Emergency Service reporting that five hikers were lost in the
impassable terrain of the Strict Reserve “Bijele and Samarske Stijene”
along the Vihoraški Trail. Immediately, a rescue operation was organised.
After having spent a night in the open, the lost hikers were located around
3:45 PM in the vicinity of Ljuska, a trackless area. The young hikers
were uninjured but disoriented.

However, because the snow covering the ground was “heavy”
with a soft upper layer overlying an icy crust, the slightest reckless
step could have caused the hikers to go sliding into a sinkhole and collide
with trees and boulders resulting in severe injuries.

Six members of the Delnice Department of the Mountain
Rescue Service (MRS) participated in the operation. Given that the incident
occurred in a protected area, Marinko Cindrić, a ranger of the Public
Institution “Priroda” and a MRS Delnice member also joined the
operation.

It was fortunate that this rescue operation ended with
no serious consequences to the health of all involved. However, this incident
is yet another reminder of the severity of winter hiking and of the dangers
lurking in nature that deserves our respect not only because of its beauty
but also because it can be ruthless.

Once again, we underline that a strict reserve is an
area under the strictest regime of protection to which practically no
visits or only supervised visits should be allowed.

We would kindly ask all visitors before making any visits
to the protected areas in our county to contact our Ranger Service for
information regarding conditions in the field.