27.07.2026 11:10
A wounded climber, who slipped and fell during descent after summiting Mount Verçenik located at the borders of Erzurum, Artvin, and Rize provinces, was rescued through the efforts of AFAD, JAK, and UMKE teams from Erzurum and Rize. The injured person was taken to the hospital by helicopter.
A climber who completed a challenging ascent on the 3,711-meter peak of Verçenik in the Kaçkar Mountains lost their balance and rolled down rocky slopes during the return journey.
LOST BALANCE ON SNOWY GROUND
A female climber from the team, advancing along the descent route around 23:00 yesterday, lost her balance on the snowy ground and rolled onto the rocks. Some of the crew members quickly called 112 Emergency Call Center to request help due to multiple fractures and severe injuries on her body.
A 16-MEMBER EXPERT TEAM WAS DEPLOYED
Upon the report, a total of 16 expert team members from Erzurum and Rize AFAD as well as Rize Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK) teams were dispatched to the area. Despite rugged terrain conditions, the teams reached the injured climber quickly and raced against time.
TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY HELICOPTER
The injured climber, placed on a stretcher, was carried by manpower through steep and uneven paths to a safe location where a helicopter could land. After initial medical intervention by waiting UMKE teams at the scene, she was transferred to Erzurum City Hospital via a military helicopter that landed in the area for treatment.