The incident occurred last Saturday, with the police reporting it this week along with a video of the rescue. According to police spokesman Petr Vala, the elderly man called emergency services shortly after 9 PM, reporting that he experienced a sudden health issue while walking in nature. However, after several hours unconscious, he was unable to provide an exact location upon waking, only the place he had started from and a rough idea of his route.

Complicating the situation was the presence of the man’s mobile phone, which had its SIM card blocked, rendering it impossible to locate him via mobile network. Additionally, his phone battery was running low, and due to his health condition, he could not stand up. After lying in the mud for several hours, he was severely hypothermic, facing freezing temperatures and snowfall that hindered the search efforts.

The weather conditions were so adverse that a helicopter could not assist in the search operation. This highlights the challenges faced by emergency services in harsh weather, particularly in remote areas where visibility and communication can be severely affected. The police reiterated the importance of being cautious when walking alone in nature, especially for the elderly, and ensuring that emergency contacts can be easily reached in case of sudden health emergencies.