Cable-car kerfuffle
August 13, 2011Twenty people forced to spend a night suspended mid-air in a cable car in Bavaria on Friday were rescued by helicopter on Saturday after an 18-hour ordeal.
It began mid-afternoon when a paraglider hit a cable, causing their cable car to stop. The incident took place in Tegelberg, near the Neuschwanstein castle tourist attraction, in the Bavarian Alps.
Trapped 100 meters above ground, some tourists were brought down on Friday but strong winds meant rescue efforts had to abandoned at nightfall. Police said the remaining 20 were finally rescued by helicopter on Saturday morning.
The drama began when a passing tandem paraglider crashed into the cable, preventing its continued operation. The paraglider was treated for concussion.
Author: Darren Mara (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar