Ski binding came loose

Mountain guide (65) falls 200 meters on Wildspitze

Symbolic image

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer / Kronenzeitung)

An alpine accident occurred on the Wildspitze in the Tyrolean Ötztal on Sunday in which a 65-year-old mountain guide from Germany was injured. The man's ski binding suddenly came loose, causing the alpinist to fall around 150 to 200 meters. 

The German from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen was guiding three ski tourers up the Wildspitze on Sunday morning. On the descent from the summit, the group reached the Mitterkarjoch at around 11 a.m., from where the mountain guide wanted to ski down to Vent in the Ötztal valley via a steep gully to the south. 

Rolling over several times during the descent
During the descent through this gully, the binding of one of the mountain guide's skis suddenly opened, according to witnesses. The man lost the ski and fell. He then fell around 150 to 200 meters down the gully and rolled over several times. He only came to rest in the run-out. 

According to witnesses, during the descent down the steep gully, a binding may have suddenly opened, causing the 65-year-old to lose a ski and fall.

Die Polizei in einer Aussendung

A witness to the fall set the rescue chain in motion. The 65-year-old was rescued by the emergency helicopter and initially flown to Zams Hospital. From there, he was then transferred to Innsbruck Hospital. 

Companion also rescued by helicopter
The three ski tourers in his group were rescued by the police helicopter and flown down to Vent unharmed.