(MountEverest.net) Ice climbing world champion Harald Berger died yesterday when a massive block of ice fell on top of him. The accident took place during a training climb in the Icecapelle ice cave, near Hintersee-Flachau, Austria. Virtually the entire overhanging frozen 150-ton ceiling collapsed on Berger who was ice-bouldering below. The climber was buried under meters of ice. Three other climbers escaped unharmed.
The 34 year old Austrian was within days to become a dad. “He was to be a father at any hour... but it all came to an end beneath 150 tons of ice. For ever. The news of the disaster rendered me speechless, it took my breath away,” Harald’s friend Simone Moro told PlanetMountain.
“Harald refused to come to Mexico with me because he didn't want to leave his wife alone. He had almost completely quit BASE jumping to avoid risks and also planned to stay at home in 2007.”
Good bye to the Ice King
Born in northern Austria in 1972, Herald was a full-time climbing athlete and certified UIAGM guide. He opened several routes on rock, ice and mixed terrain, he won the world ice climb championships in the last three years, and ended up first in all world cup circuits in 2002, 2003 and 2006. Besides rock and ice climbing, Harald also did deep water diving, skydiving and BASE jumping.
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