Austria: man falls twelve meters deep into a crevasse

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Hallstatt Glacier in the Dachstein Mountains

Photo: Karl-Heinz Schein / imagebroker / IMAGO

Apparently unimpressed by a fall into a crevasse, a 40-year-old Austrian showed himself to be.

After being rescued, he refused a precautionary stay in the clinic and instead took the cable car down to the valley, as the authorities reported on Monday.

The ski tourer wanted to ski down the Hallstatt Glacier in the Dachstein Mountains on Sunday and broke through the snow.

He fell twelve meters into a gap only 50 centimeters wide at the top.

The soft blanket of snow apparently dampened his impact.

A mountain guide with his group observed the incident and alerted the rescue workers.

After an hour, the 40-year-old was saved.

Gusty wind at the time of the accident

Although he complained of shortness of breath and hypothermia, he said he refused after the emergency doctor's examination and further treatment in the hospital.

At the time of the accident, according to the police, there was sometimes very gusty wind on site.

Crevasses that were previously open are currently partly covered by freshly fallen snow and are therefore difficult to see.

ala / dpa