82-year-old survives crevasse fall while training for Glockner climb

An 82-year-old German man who has been trying for years to climb the Großglockner was injured after falling into a crevasse on the Ködnitzkees glacier. ORF reported that he continued training for the ascent despite warnings from mountain guides.

The accident happened on August 1 below the Großglockner. The man was travelling alone and without safety equipment when he fell into a crevasse in the bare ice. A snow bridge about four metres below the surface prevented a fatal fall. Mountain rescuers, alpine police and helicopter crews recovered him injured and took him down to the valley.

According to rescuers, the 82-year-old said he had been training for a climb to Austria’s highest point, which he planned to undertake with his grandchildren.

The man had already attempted to climb the Großglockner in 2025. After an initial attempt with a mountain guide from Kals, Martin Glantschnig from Heiligenblut eventually took him to the summit.

Glantschnig described the man as physically very fit, but said he was no longer agile enough for some climbing movements. He had difficulty raising his feet high enough and struggled while climbing.

The German again tried to hire Glantschnig as his mountain guide this year, but Glantschnig refused. He said favourable weather conditions could not always be expected and advised the man not to climb the mountain with him.

Despite this, Glantschnig said, the 82-year-old repeatedly tried to head towards the Großglockner summit alone before falling into the crevasse. It remained unclear whether he still intended to climb the 3,798-metre mountain after the accident.