Teens Stranded Near Sveningen Mountain – Rescue Operation Underway

Teenagers Rescued After Becoming Stranded in Norway’s Mountains

Two 17-year-olds were rescued Saturday evening near the summit of Sveningen mountain in Bjørnafjorden municipality, Norway, after becoming stranded in challenging winter conditions. Redningsaksjonen – the rescue operation – was initiated as darkness fell and visibility deteriorated.

According to operations leader Frode Kolltveit of the Vest police district, rescuers from the Red Cross were dispatched to reach the teenagers. “We see dark, dense fog and a lot of snow in the area,” Kolltveit stated. “the safest thing is for the two to stay put on the mountain, and then the Red Cross will go up to meet them there.”

By 10:30 PM local time, the Red Cross team had reached the final, steep section leading to the mountain peak. The teenagers reported feeling cold, but their position was known, and their mobile phones had some remaining battery life, Kolltveit said.

The challenging conditions, with significant snowfall, made progress difficult for the rescue team. Kolltveit estimated it would take another two hours to reach the summit, and the stranded teens were informed of the expected timeframe.

The teenagers had sought shelter in a shed in the area while awaiting rescue. They were not injured, but decided against attempting to descend in the worsening conditions. They were accompanied by a dog.

The pair began their hike from Lønningdal earlier on Saturday. Police were alerted to their situation at 6:28 PM local time.

Kolltveit expressed optimism about the outcome of the rescue operation. “We have some contact with them, and they know that help is on the way. We hope that this will work out for the best,” he said.

Sveningen mountain stands at 842 meters (approximately 2,762 feet) in height, and the teenagers were located just below the peak.