Enlarge image
Tyrolean mountains: The region near the municipality of Reutte where the accident occurred
Photo: Johannes Simon/ Getty Images
A German ice climber has been swept down by an avalanche in the Tyrolean mountains. The 33-year-old man from Munich died in the accident in the Reutte area, while his 37-year-old Canadian companion survived with injuries, police said on Monday.
According to the information, the two men had mastered part of an ice climbing tour on the western Geierkopf on Sunday near the Bavarian border with touring skis. They then went through steep terrain to another climbing route. The 33-year-old probably started the avalanche, the police said.
Both mountaineers fell into the depths. Since they were roped up, their fall was stopped when the rope got stuck on a rock. According to the police, the Canadian was able to make an emergency call and was injured and taken to the hospital. The German had died at the scene of the accident, the emergency doctor had only been able to determine death.
wit/dpa/AFP