Fall over embankment

Styrian woman (44) explores creek bed after visiting a restaurant

Walkers found the woman's body in this creek bed on Sunday morning. She died as a result of hypothermia.(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Dramatic turn of events in the case of a lifeless woman who was found by walkers in St. Stefan im Rosental (Styria) on December 22. The 44-year-old had frozen to death in the stream bed, which was only a few centimetres deep. 

There was no indication that the death was caused by a third party, the Styrian Provincial Police Directorate announced on Christmas Day, citing the autopsy. The incident had already occurred on Sunday night.

Fell over an embankment after visiting a restaurant
The woman had fallen over a two and a half meter high embankment into the stream bed. Passers-by found her lying motionless in the water. After the fire department had rescued the woman, the emergency services were only able to determine that the 44-year-old had died.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

The scene of the accident was opposite a pub where the woman from south-eastern Styria had apparently consumed alcohol. According to witnesses, she left the pub alone to smoke a cigarette.

According to the coroner, she died of hypothermia after the fall. The relatives were informed of the woman's death in the presence of the crisis intervention team and the body was released for burial.