Dog Sigi rescued by helicopter from alpine terrain after adder bite

The dog owner then alerted the rescue coordination centre and described the situation. Due to the difficult terrain around the Gradnalm and the Rinnerkogel, the emergency crews decided to call in a helicopter. They chose the police helicopter "Libelle", which is equipped for such alpine rescues.

Deployment of the police helicopter

The helicopter crew headed for the operation site in the Ebensee area. On site, the air rescue team worked together with several first responders on the ground to safely load the injured dog into the helicopter. The operation proved demanding, as the terrain was steep and inaccessible to conventional rescue vehicles.

After the successful recovery from the alpine terrain, Sigi was flown down to the valley. Immediately after landing, the 63-year-old owner took the animal to a veterinarian to ensure medical treatment. No detailed information about the exact course of treatment was initially released; the owners expressed relief at the rapid assistance.

For the man and his wife, who according to police live in the district of Gmunden, the hike had been a routine outing with their dog. The area around the Offensee, the Wildensee and the Rinnerhütte is among the popular starting points for tours in the Salzkammergut. That an adder would bite precisely there is rare, but cannot be ruled out – the snake prefers warm, sunny spots with sufficient cover.

Why adders are dangerous for dogs

Adders are generally shy and avoid contact with humans and dogs. If a bite does occur, the venom can cause swelling, circulatory problems and, in the worst case, life-threatening reactions, depending on the size and health of the animal. Dogs are particularly at risk on hikes because they often run through tall grass or scree and can overlook the snake in doing so.

Rescuing an animal by police helicopter is not an everyday occurrence in Austria, but it is also not unusual. The crews are equipped to transport injured persons and animals alike and are deployed whenever ground teams cannot reach the operation area or when the situation requires a rapid evacuation by air.

According to current information, Sigi has come through the treatment well. The family expressed gratitude to the emergency crews for the swift and professional help. The responsible Bad Ischl police station, which has jurisdiction over the district of Gmunden, confirmed the incident and praised the composed behaviour of the owners, who had promptly called the emergency number.

The flight operator, whose crew carried out the rescue, belongs to the experienced alpine helicopter squadron that is regularly deployed in the region between Ebensee, Bad Ischl and the Tote Gebirge. The crews know the treacherous spots around the Rinnerkogel and know where a landing is possible at all in an emergency.

Tips for hiking with dogs

Hikers out with their dogs in the Alps in summer should be aware of the danger posed by adders. Experts recommend keeping dogs on marked trails, not letting them run ahead into unmown meadows or scree fields, and contacting a veterinarian immediately in the event of a bite. It is also advisable to carry a charged mobile phone on hikes so that help can be requested quickly in an emergency.

Even though the incident was frightening for the family, it ended relatively well based on current information. Sigi is expected to recover after veterinary treatment, and the owners can continue their shared hikes in the Salzkammergut – perhaps in future with a little more attention to nature along the wayside.

In this context, the police pointed out that in emergencies in alpine terrain, the European emergency number 112 is always the fastest connection to the rescue coordination centre. From there, the responsible mountain rescue and helicopter units are coordinated and can reach even hard-to-access operation sites within a short time.

Reaction of the emergency crews and the owners

Overall, the incident shows how important a functioning rescue chain between hikers, first responders, the police helicopter and veterinary medicine is. Only because the owners reacted immediately and the coordination centre dispatched the police helicopter "Libelle" could Sigi be quickly brought to safety from the mountains.

By the evening of the incident, relief had set in for the family from the district of Gmunden. The dog, which had found itself in a life-threatening situation between the Rinnerhütte and the Wildensee, had come through the rescue operation and was in veterinary care. Their next hike will probably begin – to whatever extent – with an uneasy feeling, but also with the knowledge that rapid help is possible in an emergency.

The alpine clubs and regional tourism associations have been observing the occurrence of adders in the Salzkammergut for years. Sightings are documented in order to point hikers specifically to risk areas. The probability of encountering an adder on a tour remains low, but cannot be underestimated, especially in the warm summer months.