German hiker, 74, found dead after fall from Türmljoch near Prägraten in East Tyrol
A 74-year-old hiker from North Rhine-Westphalia was found dead near Prägraten in East Tyrol after leaving the marked path on the Türmljoch and falling over near-vertical rock walls during a solo hike on 10 August.
The hike
A 74-year-old hiker from the Olpe district in North Rhine-Westphalia set out alone at around 8:30 on Monday morning, 10 August 2026, for a mountain tour in the Venediger mountain group near Prägraten in East Tyrol. His destination was the Türmljoch, a pass at nearly 2,800 metres that connects the Maurertal in the west with the Hinterbichler Dorfertal in the east. The route forms part of the Venediger-Höhenweg, serving as a direct link between the Essener-Rostocker-Hütte at 2,208 metres and the Johannishütte at 2,121 metres. At the crossing itself rises the namesake Türml peak at 2,844 metres. The man did not return from his hike.
The search begins
When the hiker failed to come back, the operator of his accommodation reported him missing at 20:50. Police launched a search that evening using a helicopter and a drone. In the darkness, mountain rescue teams with five avalanche search-dog handlers set out along various routes toward the Türmljoch. Conditions deteriorated as heavy rain and strong wind moved in. Around 23:00, the severe weather forced the air support to abandon the operation. Ground crews pressed on despite the storm and reached the nearly 2,800-metre pass after midnight, but the search remained unsuccessful overnight.
- Hiker sets out alone from Prägraten toward the Türmljoch
- Accommodation operator reports the 74-year-old missing
- Heavy rain forces helicopter and drone search to be called off
- Ground teams reach the nearly 2,800 m Türmljoch but find no trace
- Police helicopter resumes search at first light
- Lifeless body spotted near Aderkammbach at 2,270 m altitude
Discovery at dawn
On Tuesday morning, 11 August, the police helicopter took off again at 04:45 for a fresh search flight. Roughly an hour later, at about 05:40, the crew spotted a lifeless body near the Aderkammbach at an altitude of 2,270 metres, according to the Kronen Zeitung. Spiegel described the location as being at nearly 2,300 metres. The man had sustained fatal injuries.
What police believe happened
According to police, cited by the APA news agency, the 74-year-old left the marked path during his descent from the Türmljoch. He then moved into increasingly steep terrain before falling over near-vertical rock walls. Police stated that he likely descended through ever-steeper ground and subsequently fell over nearly vertical walls. The investigation is based on the preliminary findings of the recovery team.
The route and its risks
The Türmljoch is a popular crossing for experienced hikers on the Venediger-Höhenweg, offering views of the glaciers of the Venediger group. The path connects two well-known mountain huts, but the terrain around the pass includes steep flanks and exposed rock sections. The incident underscores the hazards of leaving marked trails in high-alpine environments, particularly when travelling alone.
