Mountaineer dies after rockfall on Tyrol South Tyrol border

A 68 year old mountaineer from South Tyrol was fatally injured by a falling rock in the border region between Tyrol and South Tyrol on Wednesday afternoon, ORF reported. She was descending from the Hohe Wand when rocks and boulders suddenly broke loose.

The woman had been descending the eastern flank with three fellow mountaineers. Shortly before they reached the Stampflkees glacier, she moved ahead of the group. Rocks then began moving, according to police.

A boulder struck the woman and dragged her about 10 metres towards the glacier. Her companions descended to her, provided first aid and called emergency services.

Emergency responders reached her by rescue helicopter, but she died at the scene.

The accident happened on Austrian territory, although the emergency call was received in South Tyrol. The South Tyrol emergency call centre alerted the Sterzing financial guard and mountain rescue service. Austrian authorities later took charge of recovering the body and conducting the investigation.