Unofficially our story begins sometime mid-seventy’s (70s) by a group of friends from Northern Greece, sharing the same outdoor activity, mountain climbing. Due to some serious mountain accidents of the time, this group of friends decided to create a rescue team, capable to deliver substantial and specialized assistance in an emergency in the mountainous area.
Years passed and this “friends” rescue team, evolved and assisted in more and more emergencies. Experienced climbers, doctors, mountain guides, whitewater guides and many other experienced and skilled persons joined the team. So in 1994 it became essential to create an organization to coordinate, communicate, and train all these volunteers. The title of this organization is Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT).
During the devastating earthquake in Athens, in 1999, another group of friends voluntarily assisted during the relief efforts. This act generated to this group the need to create and organize an independent rescue team in Attica as well. And so it begun, Hellenic Rescue Team Attica (HRTA) was founded in 1999, main inspiratory and leader for this organization was Christos Barouchas, who unfortunately lost his life in Autumn 2003 climbing Cho Oyu (8201m), when he was preparing his summit on Everest.
Since 1999, our team constantly evolves. Our fields of assistance expanded to wilderness/mountain, Water and Urban Search And Rescue (SAR). Our organization HRT Attica is a member of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection network, registration number 12/2001. We prepare and train to be able and ready to offer our help and assistance towards Greek Civil Protection agencies anytime – anyplace.
