An Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter rescued two hikers in trouble east of Hofsjökull glacier in the highlands this week, RÚV reports. It is the second time in three months the Coast Guard has rescued people in the area who set out on trips against the recommendations of police and locals.
The flight conditions during the rescue were very difficult with almost no visibility, but finally a hole in the cloud cover made a landing spot visible.
Auðunn F. Kristinsson, project manager of the operations department of the Icelandic Coast Guard told RÚV it was a difficult task which the team carried out well. “We believe it’s food for thought, however, that people can go into the highlands at this time of year and can expect to be rescued in any situation,” he added. “We believe it must be somehow possible to prevent such trips. We are putting our people in danger and search and rescue is putting their people in danger in circumstances that could have been prevented.”
Police in Akureyri had advised the hikers to call off their trip. “We are too often encountering hikers crossing the country, ignoring warnings and then these situations come up. This is food for thought,” Auðunn stated.
