Drama on the Split Rock: Hiker falls into a crevice!

Drama on the Split Rock: Hiker falls into a crevice!

A serious accident occurred on Friday afternoon when a woman fell into a crevice in Inzigkofen while visiting the “Split Rock” viewing platform. At 1:09 p.m., the injured hiker's companions made an emergency call, which immediately sent the fire departments from Inzigkofen and Sigmaringen into action. Together with the mountain rescue team, the rescue helicopter was quickly on site to initiate the necessary rescue measures. These proved to be challenging as the rescue took around an hour and a half. The emergency services had to maneuver the woman sideways out of the crevasse and finally brought her to safety using the helicopter's winch. She was then transported to the hospital in an ambulance. Fire brigade commander Rainer Klein was confident that the woman did not suffer any serious injuries, which is at least a small ray of hope in this critical situation.

Unfortunately, accidents in the mountains are not uncommon. Numerous incidents were recorded in the Alps in the first half of August 2025 alone. A tragic highlight was the fatal fall of an alpinist on the Brouillard ridge and other serious accidents that were documented in the press. These incidents highlight the risks associated with mountaineering. According to statistics from the German Alpine Club between 2013 and 2020, the main causes of accidents on the mountain include equipment errors, weather changes and human error, with insufficient knowledge of how to use safety devices in particular often becoming a danger. A wide range of causes that should be considered on every trip to the mountains.

Trends in accident statistics

The reports of the last few weeks paint a worrying picture. On August 15th, a lead climber fell on the north face of the Frozen Wall Peaks, while on August 17th, an alpinist suffered fatal injuries on the Brouillardgrat. There was also a fatal accident on Däumling due to incorrect use of a via ferrata set. This series of serious accidents shows that alpine safety is an increasingly important issue.
A detailed analysis of accident statistics reveals that errors in equipment and in assessing one's own skills in particular often lead to emergencies. Lakes in 2023, even many experienced mountaineers do not always know about the dangers that can arise when climbing. The uniform data situation could certainly help to raise awareness of the risks of mountaineering.

While the mountain rescue team in Inzigkofen fortunately escaped without any serious injuries, it is to be hoped that these incidents serve as a wake-up call for all outdoor enthusiasts. Safety must come first, whether hiking or climbing.

The current reports and statistics are below Swabian, Alpine and Statista accessible.