51-Year-Old Falls into Crevasse on Marzellferner and Escapes Uninjured

According to police, his 51-year-old rope partner was able to arrest the fall with the rope and placed an emergency call immediately afterward. The alerted rescue teams then made their way to the accident site in the municipality of Sölden in Tyrol.

Rescue Operation on the Marzellferner

According to the Sölden mountain rescue service, ten mountain rescuers, the emergency medical helicopter "Martin 8," the police helicopter "Libelle Vorarlberg," and an alpine police officer were deployed. The crew of the emergency medical helicopter ultimately recovered the victim uninjured from the crevasse.

After the successful recovery, both mountaineers were taken to the Martin-Busch-Hütte. Police confirmed that the 53-year-old survived the fall without injuries.

The Marzellferner is a glaciated area in the Ötztal Alps and lies in the region around the Hintere Schwärze, one of the higher peaks of the area. Crevasses can remain hidden beneath a thin layer of snow and represent a well-known hazard for mountaineers.

Background: Dangers on Glaciers

According to the assessment of the rescue teams, the fact that a fall into a crevasse ended relatively mildly despite a considerable height difference is primarily thanks to the rope team. The 51-year-old had arrested the fall via the rope and thus prevented worse, it was said.

Also interesting The two Austrian mountaineers had descended from the summit of the "Hintere Schwärze."

Police Assessment

Police pointed out that both mountaineers were considered experienced and well-equipped. The exact sequence of events of the accident is still being analyzed by the authorities.

Overall, the incident illustrates the risks that exist on glaciated high mountains even in summer conditions. The rapid reaction of the rope partner and the quick alerting of the rescue services contributed to the operation ending without any injured persons.