When the mountain swallows you at night, every minute weighs heavy. A Romanian national who was hiking alone near Matka, close to the Vrelo cave, got lost and ended up in a six-hour night-time search through the rocks. He was found only at 03:45 in the morning - distressed and disoriented, but in stable condition. In the end, a happy outcome. But the story reveals something else too.

The rescue teams couldn't approach from the Matka side because of the inaccessible terrain - they had to enter through the "Jasen" National Park. Operators from the Crisis Management Center kept in contact with the lost man the entire time, advising him to stay put so he wouldn't move in the dark and get even more disoriented. It was precisely that guidance, quiet over the phone through the night, that probably saved him.

Matka is one of the most visited tourist spots near Skopje - but it's also a place where the terrain doesn't forgive mistakes. Every summer we hear similar stories: someone set off alone, without gear, without telling anyone where they were going, and ended up in a search that engages dozens of people. This time it ended well. But how many times must the same thing repeat for us to grasp that the mountain demands respect, not just nice photos?

The rescue services did their job - and in conditions that aren't easy: night, rocks, inaccessible terrain. The question isn't whether they'll be there (they always are), but how long we'll rely on their readiness instead of our own caution. A single phone call before you set off - where you're going, when you'll be back - is worth more than a whole night-time search.