Camera flashes save climbers
From correspondents in Cortina D'Ampezzo
September 30, 2003

TWO British climbers lost in the Dolomite mountains in northern Italy were saved Monday by using the flashes on their cameras to alert rescuers.

Rescuers managed to reach the Britons, trapped on the rocky slope of a mountain above the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, after four hours, officials said.

The two men had been lost in the dark after underestimating the time needed for their trip.

Italian mountain rescue services were alerted by the British consulate in Rome, which had been contacted by the family of one of the men, who had called home on his mobile phone.

But the phone battery later wore out, and rescuers were unable to reach the climbers to find out their exact position. They finally spotted them when they activated the flashes on their cameras.

source http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...5E1702,00.html