“I snuggled to keep warm”: a climber waited for rescue in the mountains for 7 days and survived thanks to his dog (6 photos)

You should be well prepared for any trip, even if you are going to already familiar places, because anything can happen. This will be confirmed by a man from Italy who went to the mountains with his dog and had no idea what lay ahead.





Travel to the mountains

Before going on a hike, the climber told his girlfriend that he would return in about a day. This was not the first trip the men took to the Alps, on which he took his dog, Ash, with him. The pet, despite its small size, was an excellent companion, like the other dog, which waited until the last for its owner.

However, this time everything did not go according to plan. The man and the dog had not even reached the top when the climber slipped and fell down the cliff. The Italian was injured in the fall and was unable to get to his feet on his own. In addition, he had virtually no food with him, which only made the situation worse.



Alps

A few hours later, the owner and the dog were able to crawl to a nearby stream. Now he had something to drink, but he didn't have anything that would help him and Ash stay warm on the cold night in the mountains, and the sun was already rapidly setting below the horizon. The climber was reassured by the thought that rescuers were probably already looking for him. However, the man did not yet suspect that he would spend seven days in the Alps.

Alive thanks to a dog

The first night, according to the Italian’s recollections, was the most difficult. He hugged the dog to himself and covered himself with Ash with a thermal blanket in order to somehow warm up. The pet did not leave his wounded owner a single step, realizing the situation he was in. The man later admitted that only the presence of the dog gave him confidence all this time.





Climber and Ash

The brave little dog was not afraid even of the occasional sounds of wild animals. All these days, the man and the dog divided their meager food supplies in half so as not to starve. Rescuers had indeed been looking for the climber and his pet since the very day they were supposed to return, but they did not know the route of the lost one. Only a week later, a helicopter discovered Ash and his owner - the couple was saved.



Rescue of a climber

The hospital found that the fall from the cliff caused serious injury to the man. He suffered numerous wounds and bruises, as well as a fractured ankle and a moderate concussion. Despite the severe pain, cold and despair due to the long search, the man did not lose optimism only thanks to Ash, because dogs have experience in helping people stuck in the mountains.

The man is sure that if he had not taken his pet with him, he would have become depressed and frozen at night.



The owner thanks the dog for saving him

Ash did not lose his presence of mind, although we could have been eaten by wolves or a bear. “He always stayed by my side and supported me with all his might,” said the climber.

Now the owner and pet are not in danger; the man has already been discharged from the hospital. He, his family and his girlfriend gave Ash a real holiday, buying him treats, because he, too, had gone through a difficult week.



Ash received treats for his action