68-year-old hiker dies after 150-metre fall in Hochschwab

A 68-year-old woman from the Graz-Umgebung district died after falling into a rocky gully while hiking in the Hochschwab mountain region on Tuesday, ORF reported. She is believed to have left the marked trail.

The woman had travelled by public transport to Seewiesen in the Bruck-Mürzzuschlag district in the morning. She then set off alone along marked hiking trails towards the Voisthalerhütte mountain hut.

When she had not contacted her husband by the afternoon, he reported her missing at about 5 p.m. Alpine police immediately began searching for her.

Using a location signal from her mobile phone and information provided by her husband, police narrowed the search to a specific area. A police helicopter located the woman in a steep rocky gully.

Initial police findings indicate that she may have strayed from the marked trail before falling about 150 metres over steep, rocky terrain. Her body was recovered by helicopter and rope.