23-year-old seriously injured: dramatic cliff jump on Lake Hinterstein!

23-year-old seriously injured: dramatic cliff jump on Lake Hinterstein!

On the evening of June 13, 2025, a tragic accident occurred at the Hintersteiner See in the Kufstein district when a 23-year-old Austrian was seriously injured in cliff jumping. The accident occurred in the municipality of Scheffau, where the young man tried to jump from a cliff about ten meters high into the lake. But an unfortunate moment faltered his jump: he slipped out on the edge of the cliff and crashed uncontrollably, bouncing the rock wall several times. This dramatic situation was observed by his friends, who reacted immediately, jumped into the water and helped him.

The alarmed rescue workers, including the police and the Scheffau mountain rescue, were quickly on site. The injured man was first taken out of the water and finally flown to the Kufstein clinic with a rescue helicopter, where he was treated. The circumstances of the accident illustrate the dangers that lurk during cliff jumping. As a current study shows, the risks of injury when immersing themselves in the water are higher than you could think. Water resistance can lead to serious injuries at high speeds, which is often not aware of many athletes. The warnings of experts are urgent.

The dangers of cliff jumping

Cliff jumping is particularly popular with young people, but the risks should not be underestimated. According to a study in the specialist magazine Science Advances, it is shown that people are not designed for the same speeds when diving into the water as many animals that have developed natural techniques to avoid injuries when immersing them. For example, animals such as bass oils and lizards can better deal with the forces that arise on the water surface when impact.

An important finding is that safe jump heights should be better observed. A maximum of eight meters is recommended for perfect head jumps, while jumps with feet can first be up to 15 meters high. The incident on the Hintersteiner See is an urgent example of the fact that the reality can be dangerous even with apparently harmless leisure activities if you do not take your own limits and the conditions on site. Despite the thirst for adventure that arouse such activities, security must always be considered.

Since the popularity of cliff jumping continues to increase, it is essential to point out the dangers and the right technology. The incident on the Hintersteiner See leaves not only with the friends of the accident, but also with the community in tyrol question marks and concerns about safety in such water sports. Obviously it's not just about the thrill, but also about responsible action.

We hope that the injured young man will get back on his feet soon and appeal to everyone to be aware of the risks before they jump into the water.