Holidaymaker dies after falling 120 metres on Karwendel trail

A 21-year-old woman died after falling about 120 metres on a mountain trail near Mittenwald, BR reported. Police said she likely slipped while walking with her husband towards the Westliche Karwendelspitze on Sunday.

The accident happened at about 3.30pm at an altitude of around 2,000 metres on the Karwendelsteig, a mountain trail near the Austrian border. The woman, who was from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, slipped on a section secured with wire cables and fell over steep rock, according to police.

Her 25-year-old husband could not reach her because of the steep, difficult terrain and immediately called for help. A rescue helicopter and mountain rescue team reached the scene, but the woman could not be saved. Her husband was flown down the mountain and received support from crisis intervention staff. Darkness meant her body could not be recovered until Monday. Police are investigating the exact circumstances.

Winter conditions were already prevailing above 1,900 metres. In recent days, mountain rescue teams have also been called to help climbers in snow and icy terrain at the Hoher Göll, Hochstaufen and Hochkönig.

A separate recent incident on the Zugspitze, where a 21-year-old left his 17-year-old companion alone in winter conditions, has prompted discussion about when it is appropriate to leave someone behind to seek help. Police and the German Alpine Club say an exhausted or injured person should generally not be left alone. If helping directly is too dangerous or impossible, it may be necessary to descend and alert mountain rescue, while protecting the person left behind from cold and other dangers as well as possible.