All help came too late

Plunged to his death in front of his grandson

Recovery of the body by the air police with the Scheffau/Söllandl mountain rescue team(Bild: ZOOM Tirol)

Tragic accident in Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser. A German alpinist (78) fell down a steep, rocky grassy slope, slid almost 50 meters and came to rest in a gully. All help came too late for him.

A fatal alpine accident occurred on Thursday in the early afternoon in Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser. The German (78) had set off there with his grandson (17) at around 6.30 am. The tour led via the Wegscheid Almen and the Schneekar across the western flank to the summit of the Treffauer at around 2300 meters. The two reached their destination at around 11.30 am.

After a rest, they also wanted to climb the summit of the Tuxeck, but abandoned this plan and descended via the south-west side of the mountain. The 78-year-old climbed ahead on the descent down the steep and rockfall-prone scree.

The emergency doctor from the rescue helicopter was only able to determine that the 78-year-old had died.

Die Polizei

On a 40 degree steep and rocky grass flank at around 1870 meters, the senior slipped and subsequently fell around 50 meters. He came to rest in a steep, incised gully.

"The emergency doctor from the rescue helicopter was only able to determine the death of the 78-year-old", according to the police. The deceased, his grandson and another hiker were rescued using a rope and flown down into the valley.

The emergency helicopter, Scheffau Mountain Rescue, a Red Cross crisis intervention team, the police helicopter team, the Kufstein Alpine Police and two police patrols were deployed.