Nikki gave it a try

Rescue from the depths: how the mine rescue team works

Away from the visitor paths, it gets so narrow in the silver mine that you can't even turn around.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof, Krone KREATIV)

They are versatile, enduring and not a bit claustrophobic - "Krone" editor Nicole Greiderer completed a breathing exercise in the Schwaz silver mine with the Tyrolean mine rescue team and learned, among other things, what a "crash rescue" is.

My world is limited to a narrowed, foggy field of vision. I operate the manual windshield wiper on my breathing mask. Then I climb the stone steps in front of us with the rest of the squad. Far too quickly. I'm wearing a breathing apparatus, a climbing harness with an attachment and various other pieces of equipment. It feels like there is far too little air coming out of my oxygen device.