A 41‑year‑old Hungarian tourist died after falling into the Mała Zimna Woda stream in the High Tatras on 24 October, with Slovak and Polish rescue forces searching for causes.
Death of Hungarian Tourist in the Tatras
Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (Horská Záchranná Služba) was summoned on Friday 24 October to rescue a 41‑year‑old Hungarian tourist descending from the Terygo refuge in the High Tatras. While attempting to cross the Mała Zimna Woda stream, he slipped, fell into the water and was swept away by the current, disappearing beneath the surface.
Rescue Operation
Responders from the Rejonowe Centrum HZS Tatry Wysokie rushed to the scene, but harsh weather hindered the deployment of aerial equipment. They searched the stream bed and deployed a search drone alongside a Polish TOPR unit equipped with a mobile‑phone locator, as the tourist’s phone remained active.
Despite these efforts, the victim was not recovered that night. Search resumed the following morning with witness assistance, and the body was eventually located.
A Series of Fatal Accidents
The incident is not isolated. On Thursday 23 October, rescue teams found the body of a 55‑year‑old Polish man near the Gaborowa Valley, where a slip likely caused a fatal fall. Earlier, on 21 October, a 45‑year‑old Polish woman fell from roughly 300 metres into the valley below Rohatka.
Beware of Avalanches in the Tatras
Polish search and rescue organisation TOPR has warned hikers in the Tatras to observe extreme caution, citing recent avalanches and slippery conditions that have contributed to multiple fatalities.
