Climber of Zugspitze, German’s highest mountain falls to his death

By Laurens Greschat, dpa I Saturday, June 10, 2023

BERLIN – A climber fell several hundred metres to his death on the Zugspitze, the tallest mountain in Germany, police said on Saturday.

A witness said that the man was swept away by a small snow slide just below the mountain’s summit near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany on Friday, the police said.

He fell about 400 metres before coming to rest on a glacier. Rescue crews pronounced him dead at the scene.

Eleven other climbers who were in the area were flown off the mountain by helicopters. They were said to be in a state of shock. Rescuers also evacuated them as a precaution, fearing further unexpected movements on the mountain that could pose a danger.

Investigations into the cause of the accident and the identity of the deceased are ongoing.

Due to the wintry conditions in the summit region, such snow slides this time of year are not uncommon. According to the police, further slides are to be expected in the coming days and weeks.