Chania, Crete - A 45-year-old German hiker was successfully airlifted to safety Friday morning after becoming stranded in the challenging terrain of the Samaria Gorge.
The hiker, who had embarked on a trek to reach the peak of Gingilos on Thursday, found himself in difficulty and reached out for assistance via the emergency number 112.
Responding swiftly, a search and rescue operation was launched at 7 p.m. Thursday, involving eight skilled rescuers from the Fire Service's Special Disaster Unit (EMAK). The operation persisted throughout the night.
In the early hours of Friday, the hiker was located. A rescue helicopter was deployed and successfully extracted him using a specialized basket.
He was then transported to Chania General Hospital for a thorough medical evaluation. Thankfully, despite exhaustion, his overall health is reported as good.