Three hikers killed by lightning while descending Mittagsspitze mountain in Austrian Alps

Three hikers were killed by a lightning strike while descending the Mittagsspitze mountain near Flirsch in Tyrol, Austria, on June 15, 2025. Authorities commented that while the incident is extremely rare, it should not be ruled out as a hazard.

Three hikers were fatally struck by lightning while descending the 2 268 m (7 440 feet) Mittagsspitze mountain near the village of Flirsch in Tyrol, Austria, on June 15, 2025, which resulted in their deaths. The group consisted of two brothers and the wife of one of them.

The victims, a married couple both aged 60, and the woman’s 62-year-old brother-in-law, were caught in a thunderstorm during their descent. The group was located later that afternoon near a marked trail at high elevation, and all three were pronounced dead at the scene.

A rescue helicopter was sent after the hikers were reported missing by relatives, but poor weather made it difficult to reach the area right away. When conditions improved, emergency crews reached the site and confirmed that a direct lightning strike had caused their deaths.

Thunderstorms often hit the Alps during the summer, but deadly lightning strikes rarely happen. The victims, all Austrian nationals, had been hiking in a well-known but exposed part of the mountains. Local officials pointed out that storms can build quickly in high-altitude areas, making even marked trails dangerous.

References:

¹ Three hikers killed by lightning strike in Austrian Alps – Reuters – June 16, 2025

² Three Hikers Struck Dead By Lightning In Austrian Alps – Barron’s – June 17, 2025

Featured image credit: Böhringer Friedrich