A 22-year-old Belgian trail runner was found dead late last Wednesday night after slipping on steep terrain near the summit of the Geißstein in Austria’s Pinzgau mountains near Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Austrian authorities initially reported him as a 27-year-old, but Brugge/Bruges police (Belgium) have confirmed the hiker was, in fact, 22 years old—not 27 as stated by Salzburg Mountain Rescue and Salzburg police. Belgian newspapers have identified the deceased as Sebbe Blaton.
Blaton began his hike with his cousin at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, departing from Spielberghaus in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. The pair split up at around 2:30 p.m. at Reichkendlkopf, with the 22-year-old proceeding alone toward the Geißstein, as had been planned. Sebbe Blaton was an experienced trail runner and he had planned out the route he was going to take meticulously. The final communication from him came at 5 p.m., when he mentioned having about 13 km (8 miles) left and a descent planned through Lengau. When he failed to return by evening, his cousin alerted rescue services. A large-scale operation unfolded, involving Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Mittersill mountain rescue teams, canine units, Tyrolean rescuers, two police helicopters, a rescue helicopter, Zell am See district authorities, and the Pinzgau fire brigade with a total rescue crew exceeding 50 professionals.
At approximately 11 p.m., rescue teams located Blaton in extremely steep terrain on the Geißstein at roughly 2,100 meters elevation. Mitterer, head of the Saalbach-Hinterglemm mountain rescue team, described finding a distinct footprint, a snow slide path, and a reflective object—evidence believed to mark the fall point. It appeared that he slipped during the ascent of the alpine trail.
By the time rescuers reached him—50 to 100 meters (164 to 328 feet) below the trail—he had succumbed to the injuries sustained during the fall. His remains were recovered using ropes, and his body was transported down to the valley. His cousin was supported by a crisis intervention team from the Austrian Red Cross. His parents and brother drove straight away from Belgium to Austria when he was reported missing and the tragic news of Blaton’s passing reached them while still on route to Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
The incident took place in the Pinzgauer Grasberge, part of the mountainous border area between Salzburg and Tyrol, a region popular with hikers but known for its challenging terrain and hidden dangers when snow or rocks are present. The Geißstein peak reaches an altitude of 2,363 meters (7,753 feet). Recent summer snowfalls have unfortunately turned many trails into treacherous challenges and a German family had to be rescued from Lengau the previous day. The Muhr Mountain Rescue appeals to pay attention to the weather report before setting out, to carry out a detailed tour planning, and to take the appropriate equipment including emergency equipment with you.
