German mountain hiker falls to his death on tour at Türmljoch in East Tyrol

Search with dogs and alpine police officer

The emergency forces combed through, among other areas, the Maurertal, the Dorfertal and the course of the Aderkamm brook on the southern side of the massif. The Venediger high trail and the ascents to the Essen-Rostock Hut were also part of the search area.

In addition, forces from the Salzburg mountain rescue service were deployed, ascending from the north via the Innergschlöss. The alpine police officer coordinated the search from the air and on the ground and maintained radio contact with the teams.

Find in steep scree terrain

After several hours, the rescuers found the missing man in the steep scree terrain below the Türmljoch. He had fallen and could only be recovered dead.

The man's identity and his exact place of residence were not initially confirmed publicly by the police. According to the current state of information, he was an experienced alpinist who had apparently undertaken the tour alone.

Background: Risks at the Türmljoch

The Prägraten mountain rescue service expressed its condolences to the relatives and thanked the involved emergency forces. The police have begun investigations into the exact circumstances of the accident.

Mountain rescuers from Prägraten had recently warned repeatedly about the risks of high alpine tours on the Großvenediger and around the Türmljoch. Loose rock bands, sudden weather changes and the demanding route layout made the area unpredictable even for experienced climbers.

Tally of the 2026 alpine season

For the 2026 alpine summer, Austrian rescue organisations in the greater East Tyrol region are once again recording several fatal accidents. The authorities advise tourers to find out about current conditions before setting out into high alpine terrain and to monitor weather developments closely.