This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41067598
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Zillertal Alps accident kills five German climbers in Austria | Zillertal Alps accident kills five German climbers in Austria |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Five German climbers were killed and another climber was seriously injured after an accident in the Austrian Alps. | Five German climbers were killed and another climber was seriously injured after an accident in the Austrian Alps. |
Five rescue helicopters were sent to the scene, 2,900m (9.500ft) above sea level in the Zillertal Alps. | Five rescue helicopters were sent to the scene, 2,900m (9.500ft) above sea level in the Zillertal Alps. |
The climbers were roped together when one of them slipped, pulling the rest of the group with him, police said. | The climbers were roped together when one of them slipped, pulling the rest of the group with him, police said. |
They fell 200m (650ft) down a slope before landing in a crevasse. Only one survived, and was flown to hospital in Salzburg, about 80km (50 miles) away. | They fell 200m (650ft) down a slope before landing in a crevasse. Only one survived, and was flown to hospital in Salzburg, about 80km (50 miles) away. |
Officials say the climbers were below the Mannlkarscharte pass near Krimml, in an area where a heightened risk of rockslides made recovery of the bodies more difficult. | Officials say the climbers were below the Mannlkarscharte pass near Krimml, in an area where a heightened risk of rockslides made recovery of the bodies more difficult. |
"We think a rope may have come loose," said Anton Voithofer, head of the Red Cross rescue team. | "We think a rope may have come loose," said Anton Voithofer, head of the Red Cross rescue team. |
Three of those who died were over 60 years old. The climber who was seriously injured is in his 70s. | Three of those who died were over 60 years old. The climber who was seriously injured is in his 70s. |
The accident is believed to be the deadliest so far this season in the Austrian Alps, where several dozen mountaineers die annually. | The accident is believed to be the deadliest so far this season in the Austrian Alps, where several dozen mountaineers die annually. |
In a separate accident, three Italian climbers are believed to have died on a glacier in the Ademello Brenta Park near Trento, in the Italian Alps. | In a separate accident, three Italian climbers are believed to have died on a glacier in the Ademello Brenta Park near Trento, in the Italian Alps. |
Two of them perished after falling into a crevasse. The Associated Press reports that a third was rescued but died later. | Two of them perished after falling into a crevasse. The Associated Press reports that a third was rescued but died later. |
They were climbing as a group of nine mountaineers roped together, and their six companions all sustained injuries. | They were climbing as a group of nine mountaineers roped together, and their six companions all sustained injuries. |
On Saturday, an Italian climber died after he was hit by rocks in the Valtellina valley near the Swiss border. | On Saturday, an Italian climber died after he was hit by rocks in the Valtellina valley near the Swiss border. |