A 70-year-old German alpinist was trapped in an ice crevasse for about a week at the Tyrolean Schrankogel in southwestern Austria before being rescued by emergency services personnel on Tuesday.

The man was only slightly injured in the accident, though suffered from hypothermia and exhaustion, an Alpine police officer told the APA.

He was then airlifted by helicopter to the University Hospital of Innsbruck.

By his own account the German set off on his trek about a week ago from the Westfalenhaus in the Stubaier Alps, where at an altitude of about 3000 meters he fell into the 20-meter deep crevasse.

He tried to cross a bridge made of snow, which then gave way. His cries for help were eventually heard by other alpinists, and emergency services were contacted shortly after midday on Tuesday.

"He was very lucky to survive," the Alpine police officer said.

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