German hiker dies after fall on Berlin High Trail

A 36-year-old German hiker died after falling 50 to 100 metres during a mountain tour in the Zillertal Alps on Thursday, ORF reported. The man fell over steep, rocky terrain while descending from the Mörchnerscharte on the Berliner Höhenweg.

The man had been hiking from Mayrhofen with his father-in-law and two brothers-in-law along the normal route to the mountain pass. Shortly after midday, in the lower third of the descent towards Floitengrund, he stepped off the trail at a bend and lost his balance.

He was unable to hold on to the steel cable and fell over the rocky slope. One of his companions called emergency services while the other two descended to him. The man was already unresponsive, and first-aid CPR efforts by the companions and the crew of the requested emergency helicopter were unsuccessful.

He died at the scene. A police helicopter recovered his body by cable and flew it to the valley.

The operation involved the Martin 7 emergency helicopter, the Libelle Tirol police helicopter, the Ginzling mountain rescue team, the Schwaz alpine police, a crisis intervention team and officers from Mayrhofen police station.