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Toboggan Tragedy: Couple Plunge 250ft, Husband Dies
2 Jan
Summary
- A couple fell 250ft down a mountain after a wrong turn while tobogganing.
- The husband died instantly, while his wife sustained severe injuries.
- The accident occurred on New Year's Day in the Austrian Alps.
A devastating tobogganing incident in Austria's East Tyrol region on New Year's Day has led to a man's death and his wife's critical injuries. The couple, aged 63 and 58, plunged an estimated 250 feet down the Rabantalm mountain after mistakenly veering off the edge of a slope during their descent.
Their tragic fall was discovered by other sledders who noticed a fresh toboggan run extending beyond the cliff's edge and heard cries for help. Emergency services were promptly called to the scene. The wife, suffering severe injuries, was airlifted to Lienz District Hospital and later transferred to Klagenfurt Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Mountain rescue teams successfully recovered the husband's body. The couple's daughter and her partner, who were sledding with them, were attended to by a crisis intervention team. This incident underscores the dangers present even during festive recreational activities in mountainous terrain.
