Ten-year-olds and 55-year-olds die from skydiving
The Alps experience an exceptionally deadly weekend. On Saturday, a 23-year-old from Erlangen dies while hiking near the Watzmann. On Sunday, three paragliders crash in Tyrol, including a 10-year-old girl.
Two separate paragliding incidents in Austria resulted in three deaths. Among the victims were a 10-year-old girl and a 55-year-old German woman. Both incidents occurred on Sunday in Tyrol, as reported by the Austrian news agency APA.
In Westendorf, in the district of Kitzbühel, a 60-year-old Austrian paraglider got into turbulence shortly after takeoff during a tandem flight with the German girl and crashed. Both died at the scene. In Sillianberg, in East Tyrol, the 55-year-old German woman spiraled down from around 100 meters and died. The cause of the turbulence is unknown.
On Saturday, a young man from Erlangen died in the Berchtesgaden Alps. The 23-year-old was reported missing by a friend on Saturday evening. His body was found on Sunday and brought down to the valley by a police helicopter. The man had severe fall injuries, a police spokesman said. He is believed to have fallen in the area of the western side of the Watzmann's middle peak.
The two friends had intended to traverse the Watzmann together. However, due to poor weather conditions, the companion of the 23-year-old abandoned the tour. The 23-year-old continued with an unknown mountaineering group. When he did not make contact with his friend and was unreachable, he was reported missing on Saturday evening.
The European Union expressed its condolences over the tragic accidents in Austria, involving the European Alps. The German government, being a member of the EU, also offered its support to the affected families.
