Climbing accident in the Malta Valley: an adventurer has a serious fall!

Climbing accident in the Malta Valley: an adventurer has a serious fall!

On July 10, 2025, a serious climbing accident occurred in the rear Malta Valley. A 45-year-old man from the Spittal/Drau district and his companion of the same age were on a demanding tour on the Lackenkopfwand when the accident victim lost his footing for an unknown reason. He fell about five meters down the rope and, despite being secured, hit a ledge. As a result of the fall, he suffered serious injuries, the exact nature and severity of which are currently unknown. The companion immediately made an emergency call, whereupon the RK1 rescue helicopter rushed to the scene of the accident and transported the injured person to the Spittal/Drau hospital.

These incidents shed light on the dangers of climbing, which are present not only in nature but also in climbing and bouldering gyms. The German Alpine Club (DAV) annually publishes a comprehensive evaluation of accident data from climbing and bouldering halls in Germany and, since 2024, also from Austria. According to the current report, a total of 261 accidents with serious injuries or emergency services were recorded in 2024, with 220 reports coming from German and 41 from Austrian halls. The accident statistics are collected using a reporting form and only relate to incidents in which emergency services are deployed or inpatient hospitalization is required.

Types of accidents and prevention measures

What is particularly alarming is that around 75% of accidents occurred in bouldering halls, mostly as a result of falls on the bouldering mat. This increase in incidents in halls highlights the need for safety measures and education. Injuries often occur in the form of leg injuries, whereas climbing gyms increasingly record trunk, head or multiple injuries. As part of the climbing accidents, 29 falls were reported, with two of these falls being fatal. The most common source of errors was incorrect operation of safety devices, especially when dealing with automatic safety devices.

In order to counteract the high number of accidents, the DAV emphasizes the importance of partner and self-checks. These preventative measures are intended to help increase safety in climbing and bouldering halls and minimize potential dangers in advance. The findings from the accident data are not only used for documentation, but also for education within the climbing community.

The current figures and the tragic accident in the Malta Valley clearly show how important it is to consistently implement safety measures and to be aware of the risks when climbing. Climbers and boulderers are asked to always be careful and take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents.

For further information on accident data in climbing halls, we refer to the reports from the German Alpine Club Lacux and the security research of the Alpine Club Alpine Club.