Two hikers from Slovenia found dead near Fusine Lakes – Investigators assume a mountain accident

Thunderstorm and swollen stream as possible cause

On the afternoon of June 23, severe thunderstorms moved across the region. The heavy rainfall that day is confirmed by weather data. The investigators suspect that a mountain stream that suddenly swelled may have swept the two persons away and carried them to the discovery site. There is no evidence of a violent crime according to current findings.

"Ermittler gehen von einem Bergunfall aus", it was said. The subsequent heat is likely to have caused the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies. Because of the degree of decomposition, the age and identity of the victims could initially only be determined with difficulty. It was only the identity documents found in the parked car that ultimately provided certainty.

Car key and parking ticket confirm identity

The two's car was still parked in a parking lot at the lower Fusine Lake. Inside, the investigators found identity documents, mountain boots, as well as personal belongings and golf equipment. "Darauf deutet unter anderem ein Parkticket für die Fusine-Seen mit diesem Datum hin", the investigators explained with regard to June 23 as the presumed date of death.

"Laut dem aktuellen Ermittlungsstand starben Mutter und Sohn vermutlich bereits am 23. Juni", the authorities said. Since their disappearance apparently dated back only about a week, no missing persons report had been filed in Slovenia. Therefore, the two only came back into the focus of the authorities through the chance discovery near Tarvis.

Investigations by the Carabinieri and the public prosecutor's office in Udine

About 100 meters above the discovery site, the emergency services found a backpack with the woman's car keys as well as a bag containing a drone. This find situation fits the hypothesis that the two were caught by the masses of water and carried downhill, the investigators explained. A final confirmation is to be provided by the autopsy.

The investigations are being conducted by the Carabinieri in Tarvis. The public prosecutor's office in Udine is conducting an investigation against persons unknown, as is customary in Italy in such cases. An autopsy is to clarify the exact cause of death in the coming days. In addition, it must be clarified whether alpine risks such as a sudden change in weather or an unknown state of health caused the death of the two hikers.

With the tragic incident, the danger of sudden weather changes in the Alps is once again in focus. Even experienced mountaineers can quickly end up in raging streams in pathless or narrow terrain when slopes suddenly carry water due to heavy rainfall, according to experts. The case underscores the importance of careful tour planning and consistently registering longer hikes.