Woman Dies After Czech Climbing Pair Falls 460 Feet into Glacier Crevasse on Austria’s Wildspitze

A Czech mountaineer died and her climbing partner was seriously injured after the pair fell approximately 140 meters (460 feet) into a glacier crevasse while descending Wildspitze, Austria’s highest mountain, on Saturday, July 25.

The two experienced alpinists, both 32 years old, were descending the northwest ridge of the 12,362-foot (3,768-meter) peak after summiting when the accident occurred at an elevation of about 12,178 feet (3,712 meters). According to Tyrol police, the pair had stopped briefly during their descent. The man was adjusting his crampons while the woman removed a layer of clothing as temperatures rose in the midday sun. For reasons that remain under investigation, she suddenly lost her footing and slipped on the steep north face, pulling her rope partner with her. The pair plunged approximately 460 feet (140 meters) before coming to rest inside a bergschrund—a large crevasse that typically forms where moving glacier ice separates from the upper snowfield.

• Related: Mountaineer Killed in Crevasse Fall Near Saas-Fee, Switzerland

Remarkably, the injured man managed to climb out of the crevasse on his own before alerting a nearby rope team by shouting for help. The passing climbers immediately initiated the rescue response. A rescue helicopter airlifted the seriously injured man to Taschachhaus mountain hut for initial treatment before transferring him to Zams Hospital, where he remains under medical care with serious injuries.

Rescuers returning to the scene were only able to confirm the woman’s death. Her body was later recovered by mountain rescue personnel.

The Innsbruck Public Prosecutor’s Office has ordered an autopsy, while police continue investigating the precise cause of the accident.

Rising to 12,362 feet (3,768 meters) in the Ötztal Alps, Wildspitze is the highest mountain in Tyrol and the second-highest peak in Austria. It is widely regarded as one of the country’s classic glacier ascents, attracting thousands of climbers each summer via its standard route from Breslauer Hut over the Mitterkar Glacier. Although often described as technically straightforward by alpine standards, the mountain requires full glacier travel equipment and experience navigating crevasses, exposed ridges, and changing snow and ice conditions.

By midsummer, many of Wildspitze’s glaciers become increasingly challenging as seasonal snow melts away. Crevasses widen, sections of bare glacier ice emerge, and unstable rock can increase objective hazards. The exposed summit ridges also demand confident footwork and careful decision-making.

Climbers typically rope together while crossing glaciers to arrest falls into hidden crevasses. However, on steep snow, ice, or mixed terrain, a rope can also create additional danger. If one climber slips before adequate protection is established, they may pull their partner from the mountain—a scenario known as a dragging fall.

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.