Romanian gendarmes escort 37 Polish tourists off mountain after bear encounter, while three others are airlifted in Prahova
A group of 37 Polish tourists was safely escorted down a mountain trail in Suceava County after encountering a bear and her cub. In a separate incident, three hikers were airlifted from the Bucegi Mountains due to exhaustion and injury.
Bear encounter in Suceava
On Saturday, 4 July, a group of 37 Polish tourists hiking near the Călimani Quarry in Suceava County came across a female bear with her cub. An off-duty mountain gendarme who was also on the trail spotted the animals and immediately called his colleagues to prevent a dangerous situation. The gendarmes from Vatra Dornei arrived quickly and accompanied the entire group back to their coach.
The mountain gendarmes quickly arrived and escorted the group of tourists to the bus. The Polish tourists stated that they also saw the bear and cub on the trail before the intervention of the law enforcement.
The tourists were unharmed. Authorities reminded the public that if they see a bear they should keep their distance, not attempt to photograph or feed it, and call the emergency number 112 immediately.
Helicopter rescue in Bucegi
Later the same day, a separate rescue unfolded on the Jepii Mici trail in the Bucegi Mountains, a route known for its difficulty. Salvamont Prahova reported that three people were evacuated by helicopter after running into serious trouble. A 77-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were suffering from advanced physical exhaustion and could no longer walk, while another 49-year-old woman had sustained a knee injury.
A terrestrial recovery would have involved a very large number of mountain rescuers and additional risks due to darkness.
A mountain rescuer was inserted onto the trail to assist the three before the helicopter lifted them out. Salvamont Prahova thanked the helicopter crew for their prompt response.
Safety advice from rescuers
Both the gendarmerie and the mountain rescue service used the incidents to reiterate basic safety rules. Hikers are urged to choose trails that match their fitness level, check the weather forecast, and set out early in the day. In bear country, the key advice is to stay away from the animals, never try to interact with them, and alert the authorities at once.
