19-year-old hiker falls 30 meters in the Ötschergräben

Rescue by helicopter

The mountain rescue service described the accident site as difficult to access. Because of the steep rock and forest passages, the victim could not be reached by land. It was only the helicopter that made it possible to quickly pick up the seriously injured man and take him to a trauma center.

The police have begun investigations into the exact course of the fall. Among other things, it is being examined whether the young vacationer had left marked trails and was making his own way through the challenging terrain on his own. The weather and visibility conditions at the time of the accident are also being included in the investigation.

Ötschergräben: challenging terrain

The Ötschergräben are among the best-known natural attractions in Lower Austria. Deep gorges, thundering streams and steep rock faces attract hikers from home and abroad in summer. The paths through the protected area are partly narrow and exposed; in sections, routes lead over steel cables and ladders.

Just in summer 2025, a similar incident in the region caused a stir when a female hiker slipped around 20 meters on a trail in the municipality of Mitterbach and seriously injured her leg. Since then, the mountain rescue service has increasingly advised visitors to use only marked routes and to find out about the current condition of the paths before tours in the gorge.

Safety tips for hikers

The Alpine Club and the local tourism associations have also pointed out for years that the Ötschergräben are not an easy walk. Sturdy footwear, sufficient provisions and a charged mobile phone with the Alpine Police emergency number 140 are recommended.

The authorities announced that they would take the incident as an opportunity to review the signage in the area again. Whether additional safety measures such as new railings or warning signs will be installed remains open. The hiking trails around Mariazell and Türnitz remain accessible until further notice.

Police investigations

The 19-year-old, who according to information from the emergency services is not from the region, was on vacation in Lower Austria together with relatives. The family is being cared for by a crisis intervention team. The authorities did not provide any information about the nationality of the victim.

The Lilienfeld police station is asking witnesses who observed the fall or can provide information about the course of events to contact them at the usual service number. Photos or videos from the time of the accident could also be helpful for reconstructing what happened.