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Thu, Feb 09 2012
UK citizens in Pamporovo not lost, but lost in translation
A snow-cleaning machine at work in Pamporovo, January 17 2010.
Photo: Krassimir Yuskesseliev
The two British women, who were reported "lost" in the Bulgarian ski resort of Pamporovo earlier on January 31 2010 near the Stoykite slope, are alive and well, the Interior Ministry Regional police directorate in Smolyan said, as reported by Bulgarian media.
According to police spokesperson, Dobrina Angelieva, initial reports of "lost tourists" were inaccurate. The English family, which owns property in the Stoykite village, contacted the 112 emergency hotline, wanting to report that a member of the family felt ill.
In order to "help" guide the ambulance to their house, however, the woman mentioned in the phone conversation that the house was near to the Stoykite ski lift. Once the ambulance arrived at the ski lift, however, a distress signal was sent saying the woman was "missing".
The resulting misunderstanding was attributed to "the language barrier".
Bulgarian media reported earlier on January 31 that two British citizens went missing near the Stroikite slopes in Bulgaria’s ski resort of Pamporovo, and as a consequence, a Mountain Rescue Service (PSS) based in Smolyan was sent to the area.
Meanwhile a parallel rescue operation was started below the summit of Botev (2376m) where two mountaineers were reported on January 30 as missing in a steep ravine. The area is an avalanche high-risk zone. Additionally fresh snowfall has started in the central Stara Planina mountains range, which was further hindering the rescue operation.
Reportedly, one mountaineer had a broken arm, and the other a broken leg. A nine-strong Mountain Rescue patrol consisting of paramedics and alpine climbers was on site. Eight more rescuers were on their way from Lovech and Sopot.
This has been a busy week for the PSS as on January 30 2010, a 34-year-old Bulgarian woman was seriously injured in an avalanche near the Banderitsa hut near the winter resort of Bansko in the Pirin Mountain.
She had been part of a group which, at about 9am on January 30 2010, left the hut and headed to the nearby Palashitsa area.
The incident happened a day after an avalanche caused the death of young snowboarder in Bansko, and four days after another skier died after hitting a snow cornice on Bansko's Alberto Tomba ski run.
According to police spokesperson, Dobrina Angelieva, initial reports of "lost tourists" were inaccurate. The English family, which owns property in the Stoykite village, contacted the 112 emergency hotline, wanting to report that a member of the family felt ill.
In order to "help" guide the ambulance to their house, however, the woman mentioned in the phone conversation that the house was near to the Stoykite ski lift. Once the ambulance arrived at the ski lift, however, a distress signal was sent saying the woman was "missing".
The resulting misunderstanding was attributed to "the language barrier".
Bulgarian media reported earlier on January 31 that two British citizens went missing near the Stroikite slopes in Bulgaria’s ski resort of Pamporovo, and as a consequence, a Mountain Rescue Service (PSS) based in Smolyan was sent to the area.
Meanwhile a parallel rescue operation was started below the summit of Botev (2376m) where two mountaineers were reported on January 30 as missing in a steep ravine. The area is an avalanche high-risk zone. Additionally fresh snowfall has started in the central Stara Planina mountains range, which was further hindering the rescue operation.
Reportedly, one mountaineer had a broken arm, and the other a broken leg. A nine-strong Mountain Rescue patrol consisting of paramedics and alpine climbers was on site. Eight more rescuers were on their way from Lovech and Sopot.
This has been a busy week for the PSS as on January 30 2010, a 34-year-old Bulgarian woman was seriously injured in an avalanche near the Banderitsa hut near the winter resort of Bansko in the Pirin Mountain.
She had been part of a group which, at about 9am on January 30 2010, left the hut and headed to the nearby Palashitsa area.
The incident happened a day after an avalanche caused the death of young snowboarder in Bansko, and four days after another skier died after hitting a snow cornice on Bansko's Alberto Tomba ski run.
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Surely not every operator must speak English in Bulgaria.
Simply there must be some way to get things translated, when such need emerges. Not only from English, but probably from other languages, spoken among tourists visiting Bulgaria, like German, Polish and Russian.
Hopefully the incident will not rest as it is but will cause some changes in the system to make it more tourism oriented.
shame on my emergency services? listen love, i once had to wait a frigging week before i got looked by the NHS. by the time the NHS had me examined, i was fit and needed no further assistance.
The women was not missing at all she had a stroke and needed help, the operator disconnected the call 3 times before passing the call to a colleague, at no point during the call was it mentioned that there was a person missing. The operator was ignorant and should be replaced. The women was waiting hours for assistance, this could have resulted in her death. The lady on the phone asking for assistance was giving directions to the house which was located near ski station 6. Lost in translation is an under estimate in this case. Shame on you emergency [...]
Read the full comment services what will it take before you get it right???????