Case Studies Archive - MAGNUS - International Search & Rescue

Alpamayo, Peru

alex burlaka — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 12:54:17 +0000

Mission No. #8072

Alpamayo

peru

jul.2003

The Tragic Ascent of Alpamayo: A Risky Search Amidst an Avalanche

magnus reascue team members were a part of this mission

hours is the average duration of the climb from the base camp to the top of the alpamayo

meters to the highest point of the alpamayo mountain

The Alpamayo is a mountain in central Peru, rising to an altitude of 5,947 meters above sea level. The mountain is part of a ridge called "Cordillera Blanca" ("White Range"), which is part of the Andes Mountains. It is located within the boundaries of Huascarán National Park.
The peak of the mountain has a distinct pyramid shape, made of ice, with a slope of about 60 degrees. Due to its beauty, Alpamayo was declared by UNESCO as the "most beautiful mountain in the world" in 1966.
Alpamayo is considered one of the popular peaks for mountaineers worldwide, partly because it is constructed like a massive ice wall of about 400 meters in height. Mountaineers from all over the world come to climb this wall.
There are different climbing routes on the mountain, and it is known to be particularly challenging and even dangerous. Climbing Alpamayo usually begins around midnight and ends around 2:00 PM.

In the moment of this tragic event, several groups of mountaineers from around the world were in the midst of climbing to the top of Alpamayo, along with Peruvian porters and Argentinian climbing guides.

The development of the event on the mountain

The first group that set out to climb the mountain consisted of two male climbers. They reached about halfway up the wall on their way to the summit when one of them began to experience severe symptoms of altitude sickness.

The two decided not to continue to the summit and descended to their camp. On their way down, they met two more groups of climbers who had made their way up to the summit.

The first group returned to their camp and went to sleep in their tents. After about 10 minutes, they were awakened by the sound of a snow avalanche rushing down from the wall. After the avalanche quieted down, they heard shouts of “help, help” coming from within the snow that fell in the avalanche. The climbers went out to search and found a female climber lying on the slope in a state of hypothermia. The climbers pulled her into their tent, but after about 15 minutes she passed away.

The climbers descended from the mountain to call for further assistance.
Local search and rescue units arrived in the area and recovered seven more bodies of climbers who had fallen in the avalanche.

The local Peruvian Search and Rescue units found the bodies of climbers 1, 2, and 4 (four climbers were connected by the same rope, meaning climber number 3 was missing).

Later, an Argentine mountaineering team arrived to specifically locate the third missing climber. The Argentine mountaineers spent three days searching for the third climber (as the Peruvian unit did not find him) until a storm broke out on the mountain and they had to descend.

the call to magnus

At this point, a team from MAGNUS (2003) was called in for their expertise in locating missing persons in extreme conditions.

The specialized team flew from India (as they were in that time in trainings in India) to Lima, and from there to Huaraz. Upon arrival in Huaraz, the MAGNUS team received a briefing from the local units on the mountain.

Preparations, research on the case and the terrain, learning about the Peruvian and Argentinian unit’s work that had already been done, and an assessment of the situation lasted for three days.

The mission included 42 MAGNUS team members, half a ton of rescue equipment, and additional camping and food equipment.

Stage 1: Climbing the Mountain and Searching for Climber No. 3

The journey to the summit began with departure from Huaraz (elevation 3200 meters) and included four days of hiking and climbing in altitude to the base camp at Alpamayo (elevation 5700 meters) in an area covered entirely with ice and crevasses.

Due to the snow avalanche, an enormous crevasse was formed at about half the height of the ice wall at the summit of the mountain. Crevasses are deep chasms formed in glaciers. Most crevasses have trapezoidal shapes, and their width increases towards the glacier’s edges. Crevasses usually have very steep walls, almost vertical, and they reach depths of tens of meters.

After the team climbed the ice wall and reached the main crevasse, the team members, led by Hilik Magnus, decided, based on the terrain readings and situation assessment, to dig deep inside the crevasse to conduct a thorough search.

To successfully stand in the crevasse, the team members had to dig into the ice and discovered that they were standing on ice that had fallen from the wall, not consolidated ice. In other words, they realized that they were standing on ice fragments rather than a solid and resistant ice wall.
The team concluded that they were standing on the debris that fell from the wall.

Thanks to previous information received from the local Peruvian forces, in which the exact locations of each of the remaining climbers (Climbers 1, Climber 2, and Climber 4) were provided, the MAGNUS team was able to approximate where the third hiker should be.

Inside the crevasse, the team leader made the decision to dig into the snow at a 90-degree angle to the fallen rope’s direction, assuming that this would be the quickest way to locate the climber’s position within the ice.

After excavating from both sides of the crevasse, the team identified the hand of Climber no.3

Stage 2: Retrieving the Body of Climber No. 3

The retrieval of the climber took about 4.5 hours.

The climber, who was 1.95 meters tall, needed to be hoisted from outside the ice. Along with his climbing equipment, his total weight was 135 kilograms.

It took about another day and a half to lower the body down to the base camp at the foot of the wall.

The final evacuation was carried out by a Russian helicopter, and representatives of the local Jewish community in Peru were present during the helicopter flight.

Note: The actions described are for informational purposes only and should not be attempted without proper training and experience. Climbing into a crevasse or ice wall can be extremely dangerous!

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The rescue team

Case Studies

Mission No. #4619

Manang, Nepal

When a severe winter storm descended upon a remote region of Nepal, hundreds of tourists were caught in exposed locations to life-threatening conditions.

Mission No. #1097

Pamir, Tajikistan

An ill-prepared and over-confident group of hikers pushed themselves to the limit in one of the most remote regions of the world. With supplies diminished, a member of the group was overcome by severe altitude sickness..

Mission No. #3212

Ecuador

Political protests dismantled a fragile logistical system, leading to an eruption of violence. As roadways were systematically blocked, small groups of travelers found themselves surrounded by angry mobs.

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Tigray, Ethiopia

sentrysite — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 11:52:39 +0000

Mission No. #1566

Tigray

Ethiopia

nov. 2020

A delegation of business employees required rescue after violent riots erupt in the region

hrs total duration of rescue mission

embassies of different countries cooperated w/ MAGNUS in this rescue

employees from various nationalities were rescued

Many entities live, take vacation, and conduct business in developing countries which lack robust communication infrastructure and suffer from political instability. In this case, our mission focused on assisting foreign workers in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia—a declared theatre of war and the geographical focus of on-going violent political revolution. As the political situation deteriorated, communication mechanisms between the Operational Desk and groups of remote foreign employees working in the area became unreliable. MAGNUS directed its global network to evaluate the situation and provide technical solutions to re-establish communications required for the safe monitoring of conditions on the ground, and to ensure all travelers reached safety.

Initial Report

Reports were received at the MAGNUS Control Center from several foreign companies requesting immediate evacuation from the area as GSM communication infrastructure became inoperable during violent riots in the region. Reliable communication with employees in the area was determined to be critical to ensuring that a safe evacuation take place.

The MAGNUS team activated its global network and conducted liaison with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local consulate. It became clear that was crucial to gather intelligence to evaluate several contingency plans prior to taking action.

Operational Challenges

Mission Phases

Once initial reports were received, the MAGNUS Control Center gathered critical intelligence from its global network of service providers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the local consulate. Based on this intelligence, the team built several scenarios for extraction of the foreign employees. Simultaneously, an on-ground rescue team was notified to prepare to be flown into the country.
Communication is established with one group, leveraging satellite communication devices made available by close coordination with local Red Cross teams.
This group of employees is directed to remain in place, as they are determined to be in a safe location and equipped with food, water, and the presence of a doctor.
The Magnus Control Center continued to monitor and gather intelligence, leading to the coordination with a UN Delegation that was able to successfully evacuate both teams of employees to the capital Addis Ababa.

When conducting operations overseas it is recommended to consider the three stages of ‘duty of care’—preparation, mitigation, and action. Thorough contingency planning allows for a clear protocol for taking action by the company and its employees when communication is interrupted.

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The rescue team

Case Studies

Mission No. #3042

Poland – Ukraine

As unexpected military confrontation engulfed Eastern Europe, the mass exodus of millions of refugees fleeing from violence overwhelmed traditional evacuation infrastructure.

Mission No. #4619

Manang, Nepal

When a severe winter storm descended upon a remote region of Nepal, hundreds of tourists were caught in exposed locations to life-threatening conditions.

Mission No. #3212

Ecuador

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Manang, Nepal

sentrysite — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 11:52:19 +0000

Mission No. #4619

Manang

Nepal

Oct. 2022

An exceptional snowstorm trapped hundreds of travelers in the Manang District

israeli travellers rescued in total

spl program volunteers, Israeli & local rescue crew members

Helicopter rescue flights

MAGNUS has been supporting the climbing tourism industry in Nepal for the past 30 years and have facilitated over hundreds of rescues of travellers in distress. Each year thousands of visitors fly into Nepal to challenge themselves in the most severe and beautiful terrain on the planet. In 2022, an exceptional snowstorm trapped hundreds of travellers in the Manang District, blocking all roads in the area for the duration of the storm.

Initial Report

As a part of standard preparations for the climbing season, the MAGNUS Team broadened the presence of both local and global network team members in Nepal and increased communication to key facilitators to optimize readiness in the event of an emergency.

An atypical snow blizzard in the fall of 2022 was forecasted to reach the Manang area, prompting hundreds of emergency reports from travellers who were unable to proceed on their journeys due to the uncertainty of the storm’s intensity and duration. With several travellers split between multiple groups—some in relatively safe areas and others in extremely exposed terrain—the MAGNUS Control Center activated a team of first responders to mitigate the risk of life-threatening conditions impacting these travellers.

operational challenges

In cases of natural disasters and extreme weather conditions, hundreds of travelers are affected at the same time and place. This places immense strain on communications, transportation infrastructure, and available rescue personnel.
Weather conditions in Nepal are highly dynamic and can change for better or worse unpredictably.
The Manang area of Nepal is remote—limiting rapid transportation to rotary wing aircraft and leaving travelers exposed in the events of extreme weather.
Helicopter transportation in events affecting hundreds of people can be challenging to secure, as their payloads are typically limited to 4-6 passengers, budget may be limited, and fuel constraints can limit movement.
The dynamic weather conditions in the Himalayas leaves little room for error. Manang can be relatively warm in the fall, often exceeding 70° F/ 21° C. Rapidly approaching storms can leave hikers dressed for moderate climates in below freezing conditions within hours.

Mission Phases

After confirming the locations of several groups of stranded travelers, the MAGNUS Control Center coordinated the dispatch of a first-response rescue team pre-staged in Nepal.
The rescue team conducted movement to the Manang area, conducted in-extremis planning in conjunction with Magnus Control Center, and prioritized the rescue of a team of hikers exposed on a trail without definitive shelter.
Magnus Control Center maintained frequent contact with the exposed travelers through previously issued satellite communication devices. An emergency doctor was incorporated into communication and planning, closely monitoring their condition, and providing guidance to the travelers as the rescue team coordinated a helicopter evacuation.
The first response rescue team established a base of operations in Manang, monitored weather conditions from the ground, and during weather window, facilitated the helicopter extraction of all members of the group.
MAGNUS then shifted focus to the further assistance of travelers exposed in other areas. A second MAGNUS rescue team was deployed to Nepal to facilitate additional efforts.
The Control Center gathered information from several sources, prioritized the groups according to risk, and developed evacuation plans with the MAGNUS rescue teams and local assets in the country.
Utilizing these resources, the MAGNUS teams led aerial evacuation operations from two independent mountainous locations. Within 48 hours, over 40 helicopter extractions were conducted and over 200 travelers were rescued.

The MAGNUS Team is alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and proactively places increased attention on high-risk regions of the world to be able to support high volume cases during seasons of high tourism. The lessons accumulated over the course of 30 years and the relationships fostered with key human resources around the world have resulted in an unparalleled response capability. MAGNUS has led and supported operations worldwide, allowing thousands of travellers facing life-threatening conditions to return safely to their homes.

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The rescue team

Case Studies

Mission No. #3212

Ecuador

Mission No. #4619

Manang, Nepal

When a severe winter storm descended upon a remote region of Nepal, hundreds of tourists were caught in exposed locations to life-threatening conditions.

Mission No. #0556

Capri Island, Italy

On a low illumination night, a dense fog disoriented a seasoned sailor making a short transit between vessels in a small boat. His disappearance led to a multi-faceted 10-day search directed by MAGNUS ground teams.

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Poland – Ukraine

sentrysite — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 11:41:49 +0000

Mission No. #3042

Poland

Ukraine

Feb. 2022

Magnus has launched a delegation tasked with finding solutions to the rapidly devolving situation at the Polish-Ukrainian border

Hundreds of requests for evacuation received in MAGNUS’s control center

+ 0

civilians received assistance in evacuation from active war zones

+ 0

different refugee centers received assistance

In the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainian civilians fled from the war approaching their homes for the nearest friendly border—with the Polish-Ukrainian border receiving the majority of refugee activity. The unprecedented pace at which this massive emigration occurred overwhelmed border control posts, humanitarian aid organizations, and national support infrastructure on both sides of the border. A humanitarian crisis rapidly developed, demanding immediate assistance from the international community.

Initial Report

MAGNUS Control Center closely monitored open-source information detailing the unfolding of the humanitarian crisis taking place at the Polish-Ukrainian border, as key cities were overcome by Russian forces, missiles impacted population centers, and Kyiv was surrounded by conventional troops of the Russian Armed Forces. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs led coordination efforts focused on the evacuation of Israeli citizens and Ukrainian refugees from the country, flying a delegation to the area to broaden their efforts. Relevant insurance companies were incorporated into this planning effort, and the MAGNUS Control Center decided to send key members from the MAGNUS Global Network to support this effort and to develop a more thorough understanding of the requirements in the region.

Operational Challenges

Operating in an active war zone involved high levels of uncertainty.
The refugee crisis at the border created a chaotic environment at conventional ports of entry.
The disposition and resilience of the Government of Ukraine was, at the time, in question.
Martial law imposed on Ukraine added specific challenges to evacuation efforts—such as the preponderance of armed citizens, a nighttime curfew, and frequent, disorganized check points on all major roadways.
Airports were targeted by missile attacks, becoming unviable for commercial travel. Railways were occasionally targeted by missile attack.

Mission Phases

In full cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a mission was designed to assist as many refugees as possible.
MAGNUS rescue team members were deployed from various locations and consolidated at a staging area on the Polish side of the border where final planning and preparation took place.
From this staging area, team members were sent out for specific evacuation missions within Ukraine, mostly comprising of accompanied foot and vehicular evacuations across the border.
A notable evacuation event took place at the city of Lviv: A team led by company founder Hilik Magnus was able to establish bus transportation to evacuate civilians from Lviv to the border. In one instance, the team identified a solo child traveler who was disconnected from his family. The team escorted him throughout the journey until he was reunited with his family at the border.
As the situation progressed and additional support arrived at the border, main evacuation efforts became more efficient. Magnus Control Center recalled the rescue team and directed key representatives to monitor the border in case further assistance was needed.

During humanitarian crisis events, multiple organizations often arrive to provide aid. MAGNUS delivers a clear advantage to these efforts with over 30 years of experience in navigating both natural disasters and political crises. Intelligence gathering capabilities, close coordination with local governments, and the support of a global network enhance our ability to assist large-scale efforts when life and death may hang in the balance.

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The rescue team

Case Studies

Mission No. #0556

Capri Island, Italy

Mission No. #1097

Pamir, Tajikistan

Mission No. #1566

Tigray, Ethiopia

As violence rapidly escalated in the war-torn region of Tigray, business employees were forced to make rapid and potentially life-altering decisions as cellular service failed and roadways were blockaded.

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Capri Island, Italy

sentrysite — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 15:16:55 +0000

Mission No. #0556

Capri Island

Italy

Oct. 2018

A search mission was launched to find a certified skipper who went missing at sea off the coast of Capri Island

days searching in the open sea

drone and helicopter search flights

+ 0

expert crew members sent from Israel to Italy

The initial report

A charter of several yachts, organized by an association that sponsors activities for disabled persons, departed Israel and anchored offshore of the island of Capri in the Fall of 2018. While establishing their positions near the coast just after sunset, a sailing guide disembarked from a yacht, boarded a dinghy boat, started its engine, and began transiting toward another yacht in the group approximately 150 meters away. Within just a few minutes, the dinghy and guide disappeared into the darkness, losing contact with all members of the party. The MAGNUS Control Center was immediately informed of the missing person.

operational challenges

Mission Phases

Upon learning of the disappearance, the Italian Coast Guard sent a vessel to search the area of the lost sailor. The MAGNUS Control Center contacted a local asset and assigned them to join the search and rescue team to pass critical information from local authorities to the Control Center.
The Control Center established a special investigation team assigned to gathering and synchronizing information gathered from multiple sources.
A MAGNUS rescue team, consisting of maritime, aerial surveillance, diving, drone, and sonar experts, was deployed from Israel to Italy.
The rescue team conducted thorough topographical, tide, and current calculations, analyzed charts of hundreds of kilometers of territorial waters, and developed an optimal search plan focused near the island of Sardinia.
MAGNUS leveraged its diplomatic relations with the Israeli Embassy in Italy to incorporate Italian-Hebrew translators into the team, and to distribute recent photos of the missing person throughout the surrounding communities.
The MAGNUS rescue team led intensive search operations over the next 10 days. Search efforts included over 30 drone flights, 10 search and rescue helicopter flights totaling over 30 hours, sub-surface scans along the rugged cave formations by divers, seabed scans by divers, seabed scans by sonar equipment, shoreline search parties on foot, and tens of interviews conducted with family members and the yacht party.
After 10 days of intensive searching at sea, the MAGNUS rescue team was able to locate the remains of the missing man in the open waters of Capri, about 150 miles from the marina from which he disappeared.

The MAGNUS team is fully committed to the resolution of cases to which it is assigned and is postured to commit human and material resources that far surpass those available to local authorities, private search parties, and traditional insurance companies. Even when catastrophe occurs and lives are lost, our teams can be counted on to handle the most difficult situations with the highest levels of dedication and care.

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The rescue team

Assaf Riefeld

Search & Rescue Team Member - Open Sea Expert

Amit Rubin

Search & Rescue Team Member - SAR Specialist

Eyal Naor

Search & Rescue Team Member - SAR Specialist

Or Lev

CEO

Srur Tzach (Itzhak)

Search & Rescue Team Member - Water Rescue & Rafting Specilaist

Ziv Domotor

SAR & Mental Rescue Professional Director

Case Studies

Mission No. #3212

Ecuador

Mission No. #1097

Pamir, Tajikistan

Mission No. #4619

Manang, Nepal

When a severe winter storm descended upon a remote region of Nepal, hundreds of tourists were caught in exposed locations to life-threatening conditions.

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Ecuador

sentrysite — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:48:50 +0000

Mission No. #3212

Ecuador

S.America

Jun. 2022

Protests against the government of Ecuador resulted in hundreds of besieged travelers

hrs is the total duration of the rescue missions

israeli travelers rescued on this mission

local crew members dispatched across the country

As roads to safe areas became impassable, two groups of travelers were forced to seek shelter from an increasingly agitated local population. With food and water running low and the proximity of violence growing near, a request for immediate assistance was relayed to the MAGNUS Control Center. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched using the only viable method of transport—motorcycles.

The initial report

On June 13, 2022, a series of protests critical of the economic policies of President Guillermo Lasso were triggered by the sudden increase in the price of fuel and basic goods.
Public transportation workers, led by student and worker collectives, coordinated a response by blocking the major thoroughfares in key parts of the country.
Protests escalated as locals constructed physical barricades comprised of logs and boulders across primary and secondary roads. This resulted in the paralysis of transportation corridors vital to the maintenance of basic infrastructure, leaving major cities—including the capital, Quito—at a standstill.
Smaller cities in more remote areas were soon incapable of accessing critical health services, water, food, and other essential supplies.
By June 17, with tensions growing increasingly violent, a curfew was implemented, and a state of emergency was declared.

Israeli backpackers began to receive threats of violence with no viable mechanisms for standard transportation available.
Hundreds of emergency calls and requests for assistance were received from these travelers and directed to MAGNUS’s control room.

Most of the travelers were trapped in remote villages throughout the country, including areas deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon region and smaller coastal communities.
As fuel, food, and water supplies became scarce, travelers found themselves surrounded by angry mobs. In some areas, incidents of targeted violence against the backpackers were reported.

On June 15, MAGNUS Control Center initiated an operation to recover two groups of Israeli citizens:

group a

Situation: 3 travelers were confined to a gas station on Highway 487.
By the time of notification, they had slept 2 nights on a bus.

operational challenges

stages of the mission

The Control Center activated the MAGNUS international network of contacts and directed Group A to move from the gas station to the nearby apartment of a local contact. Simultaneously, The Control Center coordinated a motorcycle-based rescue team.
A group of 4 rescue motorcycles is dispatched from Quito. The rescue team was set to scan the route and roadblocks from Quito to the location of the travelers and report whether a rescue to Quito is possible (4-6 hr drive). At the same time, a fifth motorcyclist was sent to check evacuation options and the condition of the road from the town of Riobamba to the location of the group.
After joining the group of travelers on the side of the road, an assessment of the evacuation options was made between the rescue teams and the Control Center regarding the condition of the roads and locations of the protests. The decision was made to evacuate the group to the capital Quito (8 hrs including the roadblocks).
The rescue team made stops in the cities of Santa Domingo and Babahovo to conduct a renewed assessment of the situation. During the second assessment, it was decided to take advantage of the lighter pedestrian traffic and reduced checkpoints during night hours and complete movement to Quito.
Group A arrives in Quito (after 9 hrs of driving and crossing checkpoints).

All group members are safe – End of Mission.

group b

Situation: 4 travelers were attacked while attempting to circumnavigate a checkpoint on a secondary dirt road in a remote area.

operational challenges

A group of travelers located on the outskirts of the town of Rio Bamba (Caja Bamba) tried to bypass a checkpoint by navigating around it utilizing a small dirt road, aggravating local protesters.
During the detour the protesters approached the travelers, verbally threatened, and attacked them with sticks, machetes, and stones.
The situation was rapidly evolving, with the potential for increased violence.
The potential for the need for self-defense increased legal risk for the group.
During the evacuation, President Lasso announced a curfew, prohibiting movement after sundown.

stages of the mission

Following the announcement of the imposed curfew, the MAGNUS Control Center raised the level of urgency for the group’s evacuation.
The Control Center dispatched a motorcycle-based rescue team to the travelers location and began coordinating a helicopter extraction from Rio Bamba.
The motorcycle rescue team made successful contact with the group and began evacuation to Quito, bypassing checkpoints from Caja Bamba to Rio Bamba.
The group is successfully transported to Rio Bamba and transferred to a car for passage to a helipad secured by the Ecuadorian Army.
The helicopter makes an initial attempt to transport the group to Quito but is forced for return the initial pick-up point due to inclement weather.
A second flight is successful in transporting the group from Rio Bamba to Quito.

All group members are safe – End of Mission.

During this series of protests in Ecuador in the month of June 2022, Magnus Search and Rescue managed the rescue of dozens of Israeli travelers. All the rescues were carried out in full cooperation with the Ecuadorian army, the local authorities, MAGNUS’s international network of contacts, and with the assistance of the Israeli Embassy in Ecuador.

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The rescue team

Case Studies

Mission No. #0556

Capri Island, Italy

Mission No. #1097

Pamir, Tajikistan

Mission No. #1566

Tigray, Ethiopia

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Pamir, Tajikistan

sentrysite — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:48:30 +0000

Mission No. #1097

Pamir

Tajikistan

Sep. 2019

A muti-faceted plan for rescue was developed to ensure the safety of a group of hikers injured in severe terrain, far removed from any local assistance

hrs total duration of rescue mission

meter altitude when pressing the sos

km on-ground evacuation route to helipad

Severe altitude sickness can be fatal, and often leads to secondary affects contributing to life threatening conditions, such as the inability to move under one’s own power. Extracting four adult males from a high-altitude bivouac surrounded by severe topography required the massive coordination of ground rescue teams, maritime transportation, and a rescue helicopter who worked together to move ambulatory personnel over a great distance.

The initial report

On September 2019, the MAGNUS Control Center received an SOS notification from a group of backpackers in a remote location of Tajikistan. At an altitude of 4,300 meters, the group of four—aged 20-23, and recently discharged from military service—had activated their satellite beacons three days into a journey into the interior of the Pamir Mountain Range. Using their MAGNUS-issued devices, the group reported that one of the hikers was exhibiting symptoms of advanced altitude sickness, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue.

The MAGNUS team had to act quickly to assist this seriously endangered traveler.

Operational Challenges

Over the course of three days, the hikers had ascended at a rate far surpassing recommended guidelines for high-altitude trekking, impacting the faculties of all members of the group. Competitive inter-team dynamics prevented the attempted mitigation of these symptoms until it was a last resort.
The group's location was hundreds of kilometers away from the capital city of Dushanbe (the only city with central medical services) and from civilization in general, deep within the remote area of the Pamir Mountain range.
Medical and topographical conditions combined necessitated a helicopter extraction.
The severe terrain of the Pamir Mountain range added complexity to landing zone selection and flight planning.
Due to the limitations of the particular airframe used, take off angles were less forgiving than approaches for landing, further limiting landing zone selection.

Mission Phases

Immediately following the notification of the potential for high-altitude sickness, the MAGNUS Control Center connected the Desk Physician—an expert in field medicine and emergency medical response—directly with the travelers, providing clear instruction for the taking of medications in the field.
Communication continued to be supervised by the Control Center, the lead supervisor on duty, and the Desk Physician. These three entities regulate the communication and ensure that there is no deterioration in the medical situation of the traveller and manage the efficient flow of information. A 30-minute communication window was established between the hikers and Desk Physician.
In conjunction with flight planners, the Control Center analyzed possible evacuation routes limited by environmental and human factors. Simultaneously, the Control Center dispatched a local rescue team to make ground movement to the hiker’s remote location.
Utilizing vehicles and horses, the local rescue team reached the travelers remote location within 48 hours, providing food, warm blankets, oxygen tanks, and medicine to the immobile hikers.
Upon arrival, the rescue team was directed by the MAGNUS Desk Physician in efforts to stabilize the travelers. In accordance with the Doctor’s orders, the travelers were administered supplemental oxygen and additional medication.
Leveraging advanced imaging technology, the Control Center identified the nearest suitable helicopter landing zone to the group, across a nearby lake, approximately 40 kilometers from the group. A Rescue helicopter was dispatched to this point.
The rescue team utilized horses to descend the valley with the hikers and supplied oxygen tanks, meeting a motorized boat at the lake’s edge and prepared the team for a water transit—all monitored and managed by the MAGNUS Control Center.
The team successfully transited 20 kilometers across the lake, were received by the helicopter rescue crew, and evacuated to the capital of Dushanbe to receive additional medical treatment.

It is important to be aware that altitude sickness is a high-risk syndrome that can affect all travelers, regardless of age, sex, physical fitness, or trekking experience. It can affect the same individual differently depending on a variety of complex factors and, in rare cases, can lead to death if not treated. It is highly recommended to consult your personal doctor about the medical instructions for a high-altitude behavior, to conduct in-depth route planning, and to carry altitude sickness medications when anticipating travel in such conditions.

Track the

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The rescue team

Case Studies

Mission No. #3212

Ecuador

Mission No. #0556

Capri Island, Italy

Mission No. #3042

Poland – Ukraine

As unexpected military confrontation engulfed Eastern Europe, the mass exodus of millions of refugees fleeing from violence overwhelmed traditional evacuation infrastructure.

The post Pamir, Tajikistan appeared first on MAGNUS - International Search & Rescue.