A shocking situation unfolded in the Polish Tatras! As reported by the creator of the Tatromaniak profile, a pair of tourists decided to climb Rysy while carrying a 9-month-old infant in their arms. What happened next could have ended in tragedy.
A post appeared on Tatromaniak that stunned internet users. The author described an incident that took place on the trail leading to Rysy – under difficult, winter conditions.
“This is the most serious, most shocking situation I have ever had to describe on this page,” he wrote.
According to the account, Tatra guide Szymon Stoch encountered tourists from Lithuania who were carrying a 9-month-old baby on their backs. When he asked where they were headed, they replied, “To Rysy. To the summit.” The guide calmly tried to explain how dangerous the conditions were – hard snow, icy surfaces, and the risk of falling. Other guides and Horská záchranná služba (HZS) rescuers did the same. Nevertheless, the parents ignored all warnings and continued their climb.
“By some miracle, they reach the summit of Rysy. Then it dawns on them that they somehow have to get down, and panic begins,” the post reads.
The desperate father asked the guide to lend him crampons and help them descend. However, the guide knew that such an attempt could end in disaster. He suggested calling for rescue assistance – the parents refused.
In the end, the guide took the child into his own arms and carefully carried it down to a safe place, placing each step with extreme caution. Fortunately, everything ended well.
The author of Tatromaniak did not hide his emotions:
“I can hardly imagine what must be going through someone’s mind to take a 9-month-old baby to Rysy in such conditions. I can hardly imagine how one can hear so many warnings from experienced people along the way and still stubbornly keep going.”
He concluded with heartfelt words addressed to the guide:
“Man, with a high degree of probability, you saved that child’s life.”
The entire story shows how a lack of common sense in the mountains can lead to tragedy – and how crucial the role of experienced guides is in preventing it.