General

Hiker who went missing while exploring a Hofsjökull ice cave found dead

By Staff

Blágnípujökull The ice cave, which is located in one of the outlet glaciers of Hofsjökull, was discovered earlier this winter. Photo/IMO

A hiker who went missing in a recently discovered ice cave in Blágnípujökull, an outlet glacier of Hofsjökull glacier in the Central Highlands late yesterday afternoon, was found dead shortly before midnight. The man, who was an Icelandic national, a male in his sixties, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police in South Iceland is currently investigating the cause of the accident.

Police in South Iceland made the announcement that the man had been found dead shortly after midnight.

The authorities have repeatedly warned against visits to the cave as it contains dangerously high levels of poisonous geothermal gases, especially Hydrogen sulfide, H2S.

Read more: Hikers advised to show extreme caution in recently discovered ice cave in Hofsjökull glacier

Read more: Warning: Show extreme caution when entering ice caves created by geothermal activity

The local news site Vísir reports that the man was traveling with a group which was accompanied by a local guide. Several people who are intimately familiar with the area were at the scene and could assist the search and rescue teams.

One of the other people in the group contacted 112 when the group discovered the man wasn't with the group when the people returned to the surface. The distress call was made shortly after five in the afternoon. The first rescuers had arrived at the scene at nine. Hofsjökull is in the center of the Central Highlands. The scene of the accident can only be approached on especially equipped mountain trucks or by snow mobiles. No roads lead to the cave.

More than a hundred members of ICE-SAR companies in North and South Iceland participated in the operation. Conditions at the scene were extremely difficult due to severe weather. Due to severe weather and limited visibility the Coast Guard was unable to land near the cave entrance, but was forced to land at a highland center some distance from the glacier.

Search and rescue teams which entered the cave had to bring air and wear oxygen masks due to the high levels of poisonous gases in the cave.

We want to take this opportunity to remind travellers NEVER to enter ice caves without experienced guides, and to keep in mind that caves created by geothermal activity can be deadly dangerous, as these caves are both more unstable than caves created by meltwater, and they contain poisonous gases.