Mission in the Innviertel region

Major search operation for missing priest

The large-scale search operation in Moosdorf was crowned with success

(Bild: Scharinger Daniel/Daniel Scharinger)

On a hot Saturday, there was relieving news when an 84-year-old priest "went missing" during a walk. The retired priest was found alive during a major search operation. He had apparently fallen next to a pond and was unable to get up.

Mr. Pastor has disappeared! On Saturday morning, there was a major alarm in Moosdorf in the Innviertel region because the long-time pastor Ferdinand O. (84) - now retired but active in the village for more than half a century - had gone missing during a walk shortly after 9 am.

"He was supposed to be at a market nearby, in Aschau. But he didn't arrive there," reports fire department operations manager Peter Welli. Surrounding vicarages and other places where the "Herr Pfarrer", who is already slightly demented, likes to be, were immediately searched. Seven fire departments were alerted, drones were also deployed to cover meadows and fields, and more than 50 helpers were out on foot or in vehicles on paths. Without success.

Redemptive news
In the end, the Floriani team called on the Red Cross search dog squadron with eleven helpers on four paws to come to their aid, but then salvation came during the journey. At 11.37 a.m. on the dot, Pastor Ferdinand O. was found by one of the Floriani disciples.

"Alive and responsive," said a delighted Peter Welli, head of operations. In Elling, near a pond, exactly in the opposite direction to the road to Aschau, the elderly priest was lying next to a pond. He had fallen and was no longer able to get up on his own. The 84-year-old was handed over to the emergency services, treated and taken to hospital.