Tragic accidents in Garmisch: Two hikers die in the mountains

Tragic accidents in Garmisch: Two hikers die in the mountains

Tragic accidents occurred on Thursday while hiking near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which cost the lives of two men. A 28-year-old hiker fell several hundred meters after presumably slipping while crossing. The accident victim was discovered lifeless by a group of hikers; Help came too late. An elderly man, 62 years old, collapsed while hiking on the Wank. A hiker who happened to be passing by tried to resuscitate him, but this effort was also unsuccessful. A doctor later determined the cause of death to be natural. These incidents come in the context of a worrying series of accidents in the mountains, such as alpin.de There have been recent reports of serious accidents.

In the first two weeks of June 2025 there were several dramatic incidents in the German and Austrian Alps. On Lake Attersee, a 59-year-old man fell 15 meters and suffered serious injuries, while a mountaineer on the Großglockner also survived a 300-meter fall, but with serious injuries. In addition to these incidents, there were also emergency rescue missions due to hypothermia at the Zugspitze in the first half of June.

Potential for accidents when hiking in the mountains

The increasing reports of hiking accidents raise questions about the potential for accidents while hiking in the mountains. A study by DAV safety research from spring 2021 shows that around a third of mountain accidents result from emergencies involving hikers where rescue workers are not called. The majority of accidents occur due to tripping, twisting or slipping. These incidents make up a significant portion of the DAV mountain accident statistics. Mountain and climbing emphasizes that many hikers in these situations simply act themselves or survive the situation unscathed, which further increases the number of unreported accidents.

Excessive or inadequate demands on passages are particularly common, which 77% of those surveyed found unpleasant. Despite these distresses, they are often not perceived as dangerous, especially during thunderstorms, which 57% of respondents have experienced in the last 10 years. Prevention should therefore focus on sure-footed training and proper tour planning in order to reduce the risk on such adventures.

As recent events show, it is essential for mountain hikers to prepare well and realistically assess their own abilities. Mountain hiking remains a wonderful experience, but it also involves risks that need to be carefully considered. The incidents in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are a clear indication of the seriousness of this threat.