160 skiers in Austria were recently rescued from a dangerous ordeal.

Police say helicopters and emergency crews rescued about 160 skiers and snowboarders stuck on a defective chairlift in western Austria.

Most of them were winched down to the ground but 17 had to be attached by cables to helicopters and flown out because of the rugged terrain below them.

The crews were called into the Gruenau-Kaesberg ski area on Wednesday after one chairlift lurched to a stop. Officials say no one was hurt in the rescue operation but several people had to be treated for shock.