Search in the Zillertal

German alpinist (60) remains missing

The Libelle Tirol police helicopter is part of the search.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer / Kronenzeitung)

Since August 15, there has been no trace of the man from Frankfurt, who set off from the Friesenberghaus in the Zillertal Alps on a tour to the Hoher Riffler (3231 m). On Tuesday, the Alpine police and mountain rescuers from Ginzling launched another search operation.

The search team was supported by the Libelle Tirol police helicopter. "We concentrated on the normal route to the Hoher Riffler, as the man was most certainly on it," says Ulli Huber, head of the Ginzling mountain rescue team. The crevasses and gullies in the direction of Hintertux were also checked again - to no avail.

We probably have around eight long-term missing persons in the region.

Ulli Huber Ortsstellenleiter Bergrettung Gingzling

Under large boulders?
"The man could be lying somewhere meters deep under large boulders. That makes the search very difficult, of course," says the mountain rescue chief. There are unlikely to be any further search operations for the time being. "We don't have an official mission."

Not an isolated case
Incidentally, the German is not the only person to go missing in the Hintere Zillertal. "We probably have around eight long-term missing persons in the region," says Huber.