A German national has sustained serious injuries in a hiking accident within the High Tauern mountain range. The incident occurred on Thursday as the 46-year-old woman, accompanied by her 43-year-old husband and their 12-year-old daughter, was hiking on the Tauern Höhenweg trail.
The woman slipped and fell approximately 20 meters into steep terrain above the Geißlwand area. According to the Carinthia State Police Directorate, she managed to cling to a ledge just above a sheer rock face, preventing a more catastrophic outcome. However, the fall resulted in severe leg injuries.
Her husband immediately initiated emergency procedures. Due to adverse weather conditions, rescue teams from Mallnitz and Fragrant mountain rescue services, along with the Spittal an der Drau Alpine Police, were forced to hike the majority of the ascent to the accident site, located at an altitude of 2,450 meters.
A rescue helicopter was initially deployed but was forced to abandon the operation due to the challenging weather. After initial on-site treatment, the woman was carefully secured and transported down the mountain on a stretcher, before eventually being taken by ambulance to the Spittal an der Drau hospital.
