Thomas Bubendorfer in action (©bubendorfer.com)

The Austrian extreme climber Thomas Bubendorfer had a ten-meter-fall during ice climbing in the Italian Dolomites and was very seriously injured. According to Italian media reports, the condition of the 54-year-old has improved slightly, but is still critical. The accident happened on Wednesday. Bubendorfer was climbing with a partner on a frozen waterfall in the gorge Serrai di Sottoguda on the Marmolada, a popular ice climbing area. For unknown reasons, he fell and landed in a creek bed. Reportedly water penetrated into his lungs. He had to be given artificial respiration. In addition, Bubenhofer is said to have suffered head injuries, rib fractures and internal injuries. He is now in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Padua.

Many free solo projects

Bubendorfer had made headlines in the 1980s and 1990s with spectacular free-solo climbs, for example in 1983 in the north faces of Grandes Jorasses, Matterhorn and Eiger. In 1986, it took him 23 hours to solo climb the granite giant Fitz Roy in Patagonia. In 1991, Bubendorfer first climbed solo and without rope through the South Face of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America. In the past 15 years, he has succeeded in many first ascents as an ice climber.

Update 4 March: At the request of Bubendorfer’s family a news blackout was imposed. As long as he is in critical condtion, the hospital in Padua does not want to give any further information about his health. So keep your fingers crossed!

Update 7 March: Good news! Thomas is out of danger and on his way to recovery, says his family.