On Sunday evening at around 7:10 p.m., hikers reported panicked screams from the 2,600-meter-high Roßkogel in the Stubai Alps (Austria). A dull bang was also reportedly heard. Alarm bells immediately rang with the police: Was there an accident on the mountain?
As darkness was falling, the alpine police and two patrols from Fulpmes and Kematen were dispatched. The police helicopter “Libelle Tirol” also took off. Searchlights scanned the slopes—but the initial search was unsuccessful. Officers scanned the terrain with binoculars and questioned witnesses who reported hearing several screams.
Photographing the Sunset
The crucial turn came only around 9:00 p.m.: a light source was seen moving slowly downhill. Rescue crews reached a 58-year-old German man who was using a flashlight. He provided the surprising explanation: while photographing the sunset, his digital SLR camera had slipped from his grasp and tumbled down the slope. He had screamed loudly while trying to retrieve it.
The camera, which police stated had a value in the lower five-figure range (€10,000+), was severely damaged. The man, who was from Munich, remained unharmed and continued his descent without assistance.
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