Just after 5.30pm on Maundy Thursday, the Troms police district was able to report that a tourist had fallen and injured himself roughly in the middle of Sherpatrappa. Then both volunteers from the Red Cross and a rescue helicopter were sent to the patient.
Four falls in a short time
A little over an hour later, the police updated, but then with this message:
– While the patient was being attended to by passers-by, a new incident occurred with a fall in the same place. Two patients were flown by rescue helicopter to UNN.
But Sherpatrappa is clearly slippery today, and it is not certain that the tourists had dressed in the right footwear.
Not long after, this update came:
– Two new separate incidents in Sherpatrappa with falls. The Red Cross had barely finished their previous mission before they set their course upwards again. We have no information that anyone has been seriously injured.
Not clear about extent of damage
Operations manager Karl Erik Thomassen confirms to Nettavisen that the stairs are slippery – and that “only tourists” have fallen.
– It’s slippery on the stairs. It is exclusively tourists who have fallen here. We are unsure whether it is damaged or just bruised, but we have sent up the Red Cross with carrying crews, says Thomassen.
And adds:
– When we get four falls with injuries in a couple of hours, we understand that you have to be careful here. Good footwear is important.
