Czech climber dies after rock breaks during overtaking attempt

A 36-year-old Czech mountaineer died after falling on the 2,511-metre Great Ochsenhorn mountain near Lofer in Pinzgau on Saturday, ORF reported. He was trying to pass two other climbers near the summit when a rock broke away.

The man was climbing with two friends. At about 2,400 metres, just below the summit, the group encountered the pair heading uphill. As he tried to overtake them, he held on to a large boulder, which came loose. He fell backwards about 100 metres into a steep gully.

One of the other climbers immediately went down to him but could not help. A police helicopter recovered the man’s body.