Two Austrian climbers who were reported missing in their attempt to traverse Kapsa Gorge in the Makry Gialos area of Lasithi in the east of the island, have been found dead just after 1:30 pm, rescue workers announced on Friday.
The two hikers, aged between aged 68 and 69, were part of a group of seven people from Austria, all experienced climbers, that were on the gorge. Rescue services were called in after the two men fell from a great height for reasons that have not yet made clear. Eye witnesses said the two climbers were tied together with safety rope and when one of them fell after one or more anchors came lose from the rock possibly as a result of a rockfall, took the other with him. Rescue teams mobilised to look for them finally found the two climbers dead with multiple injuries.
One of the dead men was Albert Precht, a world renown retired climber, who with his 69 year old friend (named only as Robert) were frequent visitors at the Kapsa gorge and were familiar with the terrain. Albert Precht’s wife was part of the climbing group.
