Wanderin (62) falls 200 meters into death: grief for an accident.

Wanderin (62) falls 200 meters into death: grief for an accident.

Brunnkogel, Oberösterreich, Österreich - A tragic hike ended fatally for a 62-year-old woman from the district of Grieskirchen. On July 21, 2025, the accident on Brunnkogel in Upper Austria, where the experienced hiker, together with a 54-year-old companion from the Welsland district, stepped onto a loose stone that broke off. The woman fell around 200 meters above a rock face in this incident and died despite the immediate reaction of the rescue workers.

The emergency doctor could only find the death of the hiker. Their companion was transported by the emergency services, including the emergency medical helicopter "Martin 3", to the intermediate landing site on Langbathsee. There he received support from the crisis intervention team. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. at a height of about 950 meters in the municipal area of Ebensee, Gmunden district.

increasing number of accidents in alpine space

The number of fatal alpine accidents in Austria assumed alarming proportions in 2024. It rose by 16 percent compared to the previous year. Overall, the Austrian mountain rescue recorded a record of 10,097 missions, which corresponds to an increase of over 4 percent compared to 2023. This year there were 127 fatalities in hiking, which corresponds to an increase of 28 percent compared to 2023

An analysis of the causes shows that many of the accidents could be avoided by lacking preparation and insufficient awareness of danger. Cardiovascular failure is the most common cause of death, especially among older hikers. In 2023, 266 people died in the mountains of Austria, which is below the ten-year fund of 282, but the trend shows a worrying increase in accidents in 2024.

dimensions of alpine accidents

A comprehensive look at the statistics shows that in 2023 9,089 injuries were recorded in the alpine accident database, while the number of an injured (all injured, dead and uninvested) was 13,681. Most frequent accidents have been recorded in skiing, followed by hiking and mountaineering. The most common cause of fatal accidents when hiking was falling and stumbling.

The tip of the alpine accidents runs through various months. The high number of incidents in July, August and September are particularly striking. In this context, the need for preventive measures and better preparation for hikers is becoming increasingly important.

With over 12,880 volunteers in Austria, the emergency services work closely with the alpine police, flight rescue, fire brigade and other emergency services in order to be able to react quickly in emergencies.

The recent tragic incidents illustrate how important security and experience are in alpine terrain. It remains to be hoped that such accidents can be avoided in the future by more intensive training and sensitization.

For more information on the background of this tragedy, read more at 5min.at , krone.at and alpin.de. .