They Faked an Injury and Asked for a Helicopter: GSS Sends a Message
A young man on Troglav reported a leg injury, but when rescuers arrived on foot instead of by helicopter, the injury suddenly disappeared
A young man on Troglav reported a leg injury, but when rescuers arrived on foot instead of by helicopter, the injury suddenly disappeared
The Mountain Rescue Service of the Herzegovina-Bosnia Canton (GSS HBŽ) had one of its most unusual interventions in recent history on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Two young men on Mount Troglav staged a farce at the expense of volunteers, faking an injury in hopes of being flown home by helicopter, ABC Portal reports.
It all began at 4:00 PM when the on-duty number of HGSS/GSS HBŽ received a call from worried parents. According to them, the young man and his friend were at the "Runolista kuća" bivouac on Troglav, where he had injured his leg during hiking and allegedly could not descend to the base on his own.
Six rescuers were immediately dispatched, hiking up the mountain to reach the injured person. However, upon arriving at the bivouac, they found a scene that did not match the severity of the report, writes Nacionalno Plus.
Instead of an injured young man in pain, the rescuers found two young men in exceptionally good and cheerful spirits. The situation became clearer when the young men realized that the rescuers had not arrived by helicopter but on foot.
"The mood briefly soured when the young men learned that the rescuers had not arrived by helicopter but-on foot. Thus, their hopes for a free scenic flight were dashed, leaving them with the option of descending with the rescuers' help," GSS rescuers described for Nacionalno Plus.
During the descent to the base, what the rescuers themselves called "a real little miracle" occurred. The leg injury miraculously healed the moment the young men realized there was no helicopter. The "injured" young man no longer had any trouble walking nor did he require any assistance in moving.
Although the intervention ended on a light note, GSS HBŽ issued a serious warning to all mountain visitors.
"We want to remind everyone that GSS is not a service to be called as a joke, out of frivolity, or due to unnecessary dramatization. Every call mobilizes real people, equipment, and resources, and while rescuers are deployed for an unnecessary call, someone who genuinely needs help may be waiting for an intervention," GSS HBŽ stated.
Finally, they sent a clear appeal, as reported by ABC Portal:
"Therefore, we appeal to all hikers and mountain visitors to be responsible, assess their abilities and terrain conditions before heading out, and to call GSS only when help is truly needed. And as for the helicopter-GSS is not a taxi service. Rescuers will come to you on foot, but then you might have to walk back on foot as well."
As reported by Krapinsko-Zagorski, the Mountain Rescue Service of the Herzegovina-Bosnia Canton used this case to highlight the seriousness of false reports and the abuse of rescue services, which can endanger people who genuinely need help.
