A 29-year-old Czech climber was seriously injured on Saturday on the Stüdlgrat ridge of Austria’s Grossglockner. According to Austrian police, he fell approximately ten meters after - according to his wife’s account - the belay loop securing him to a bolted anchor point snapped.

The climber was leading the way along the ridge, roped together with his 24-year-old wife. At an altitude of about 3,700 meters, he secured himself with a sitting loop to a bolted anchor and sat down in his harness. According to his wife, the sling snapped and the man fell backward approximately ten meters down stepped, nearly vertical rock terrain. His fall was halted by a small rock ledge, where he remained lying.

First aid was provided by a climber from the preceding rope team. The rescue operation was complicated by strong gusts of wind and recurring patches of fog. After several unsuccessful attempts to free him, the injured man was hoisted by a police helicopter using a winch and transported to the Lucknerhaus hut, from where air rescue personnel transported him to the hospital in Zell am See.

His wife was not injured in the accident and, accompanied by members of the mountain rescue service, descended past the summit of the Grossglockner to the Adlersruhe hut.


Source:

Press release from the Tyrol Police: Alpine accident on Glor-Berg, Großglockner, Stüdlgrat

Featured photo: Grossglockner from the south (wikimedia.org)