On images released by the Italian authorities, it can be seen that the man is hoisted up on a helicopter via a winch. The victim can be seen on a different image, sitting on the ground, after he was given first care.
The Dutchman was examined by care providers after they reached him. © Italian Air Force
The incident happened near Palermo. On Wednesday afternoon, an HH-139B helicopter of the so-called 82nd SAR team of the Italian Air Force was sent into the area to save the 72-year-old Dutch tourist who had a heart attack during an excursion in the hills near Chiusa Sclafani.
The mission, carried out in collaboration with a rescue service that consists of alpinists and speleologists, was started after an emergency call. After more than two hours, the crew reached the inaccessible area where the man and his partner were located.
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After a first medical examination, both were taken from the area by winch and transferred to the Civic Hospital in Palermo, where it was established that the man had actually had a heart attack.