Czech climbing couple falls 140 meters on the Wildspitze – woman dead

Both mountaineers then fell around 140 vertical meters and came to rest in a bergschrund – a glacial crevasse at the edge of the glacier. While the woman remained in the bergschrund, the 32-year-old man managed to free himself from the crevasse.

After leaving the crevasse, the man drew the attention of an uninvolved rope team by shouting loudly. The team then alerted mountain rescue. A rescue helicopter flew the seriously injured 32-year-old out and initially brought him to the Taschachhaus, an alpine refuge at around 2,434 meters above sea level.

Rescue by helicopter

From there, the injured man was flown to Zams hospital after receiving initial treatment. He had suffered serious injuries in the fall. For the 32-year-old woman, however, help came too late.

On the second approach, the emergency doctor could only confirm the death of the woman, who was still in the bergschrund. The recovery operation and further investigations into the exact cause of the accident are ongoing.

The Wildspitze, at 3,768 meters, is the highest mountain in North Tyrol and a popular but demanding high-mountain touring destination. The north face is considered particularly serious terrain in which crampons, ropes, and experience in dealing with glacial crevasses are essential.

Background: The Wildspitze

Why the woman lost her footing at the stance the couple had previously reached is the subject of the ongoing investigation. According to police, the 32-year-old had at that moment tightened his crampons, while his partner was taking off items of clothing.

The exact circumstances of the fall – in particular the question of whether a slip, an equipment problem, or another event triggered the fall – are being investigated by the alpine police. The responsible public prosecutor's office is also examining whether third-party fault can be ruled out.

The incident is part of a series of serious mountain accidents in Tyrol this summer. Just a few weeks ago, there had been several fatal falls in the Alps, which has reignited the debate about safety standards and equipment on high-mountain tours.

Safety situation in the Alps

Authorities have been warning for days about the current conditions: thaw and high temperatures make snow and firn surfaces at high altitudes slippery, while glacial crevasses are sometimes altered by the melting or become harder to detect.

Investigations into the cause of the accident

Despite these warnings, numerous mountaineers head for the demanding routes of the Wildspitze during the summer months. The north face is considered one of the most frequently climbed but also most dangerous tours in the Pitztal.