Climber falls eight meters into rope at Wilder Kaiser and is rescued by helicopter

Course of the fall

According to current findings, the woman suddenly fell on her own approximately one meter below the belay station and dropped 8 to 9 meters into the rope. Her climbing partner was able to catch the fall and rappel the injured woman down to her belay station. The climbing partners then managed to rappel the injured 34-year-old down to the base of the wall at the northwest base of the Kleine Halt despite intense pain in the hip area.

The 29-year-old placed the emergency call at around 3:00 p.m. The rescue was carried out by the crew of an emergency medical helicopter, who extracted the woman from the wall using the hoist. She was then flown to Kufstein Hospital with injuries of undetermined severity.

Rescue and transport

The police and mountain rescue service provided no information on the exact severity of the injuries. As of Sunday, no further information was available regarding the woman's current state of health. The "Gatto Nero" route is regarded among mountaineers as a demanding multi-pitch route in the area of the Kleine Halt.

The incident is reminiscent of the risks of alpine multi-pitch routes, where a fall into the rope can cause serious injuries even among experienced mountaineers. The Tyrol mountain rescue service has repeatedly pointed out in the past that the combination of altitude, exposure, and sometimes adverse weather conditions at the Wilder Kaiser requires particular caution.

Background on the route

The Kleine Halt is one of the striking rock formations of the Wilder Kaiser and is a popular destination for climbers from across the German-speaking region. The "Gatto Nero" route leads over several pitches through the northwest base and places high demands on technique and fitness.

The authorities announced that they would continue to investigate the course of the accident. There are currently no indications of third-party fault or of a technical cause related to equipment.

According to the mountain rescue service, operations on via ferratas and on multi-pitch routes occur repeatedly at the Wilder Kaiser, in the municipal area of Kufstein (Tyrol). Rescue by helicopter using the hoist is the rule in this terrain, as a ground-based evacuation would take too long.