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Munich hiker falls: mountain rescue service rescues him after a nighttime odyssey
A 41-year-old from Munich had an accident in Schönau am Königssee and was rescued by the mountain rescue service after six hours.
Munich hiker falls: mountain rescue service rescues him after a nighttime odyssey
On the night of May 27th to 28th, 2025, a dramatic mountain accident occurred in the Hagengebirge, near Schönau am Königssee. A 41-year-old from Munich got lost while descending from Windschartenkopf and slipped across a snowfield. This situation not only posed a significant danger to the hiker, but also required an extensive rescue operation.
The Berchtesgaden mountain rescue service was immediately alerted. The emergency call was received shortly after 9:30 p.m., but the exact position of the victim was unclear due to a poor cell phone connection. The mountain rescuers had to prepare for a quick search that ultimately lasted six hours. The first rescue measures could be initiated about an hour later.
Rescue operation under difficult conditions
The operation turned out to be extremely challenging. A police helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera was unable to fly due to adverse weather conditions. Instead, a second helicopter with a rescue winch was used to rescue the injured hiker and a rescuer. Climatic conditions were a crucial factor that greatly influenced search and rescue efforts.
The mountain rescuers were able to lift the man from Munich together with a rescuer in a first approach. A second approach was necessary to transport the remaining mountain rescuers. When the operation finally ended at 3:40 a.m., the man had suffered injuries to his arm and hand and was hypothermic. He was no longer able to walk and was taken to the Bad Reichenhall district clinic for care.
Increase in mountain accidents in the Alps
This incident is not isolated. Setbacks for hikers in the Alps are increasing, reports show. Just a few days earlier, on May 24, 2025, a five-person hiking group got into mountain distress in the Wilder Kaiser. A few days later, on May 26th, there was a tragic accident on the Rimpfischhorn in the Valais Alps in which five ski tourers died. In this context, the mountain rescue service is called upon throughout the entire month of May: in Berchtesgaden they counted a total of 15 missions this month.
These developments are alarming and urge all mountain hikers to exercise increased caution and plan their tours carefully. Autumnal weather conditions can lead to unpredictable situations. In the mountains it is still important to be well prepared and safe at all times.