New Zealander falls to his death at Andechs

[deco 23]

This is sad news: a 23 year old New Zealander went on the traditional pre-Oktoberfest trip to Andechs, but somehow got separated from his friends. He was reported missing last Tuesday. Police searched the area and eventually found his body 30m below a path on a steep slope, so it looks as though he accidentally slipped.

 

Local newspaper report:

 

Vermißter Neuseeländer tot aufgefunden

Wie bereits mehrfach berichtet, ist seit Donnerstag letzter Woche der 23jährige Richard Paterson nach einem Besuch des Kloster Andechs abgängig. Er wurde am Dienstag Abend von seinem Freund bei der PI Herrsching als Vermisst gemeldet. Gestern suchten starke Polizeikräfte nochmals den Bereich um das Kloster Andechs, insbesondere das Kiental nach Herrsching ab. Um 15:50 Uhr fanden Einsatzkräfte der Bereitschaftspolizei in Andechs am Oberen Kirchweg Richtung Kiental eine männliche Leiche. Der Tote lag etwa 30 Meter unterhalb des Weges. Das Gelände neben dem Fußweg fällt hier steil ab und ist nur schwer zugänglich. Allem Anschein nach dürfte es sich bei dem Toten um den Vermissten Neuseeländer handeln. Warum er sich von der Gruppe getrennt hat konnte bislang nicht ermittelt werden. Die Beamten der Kripo Fürstenfeldbruck gehen von einem Unglücksfall aus. Hinweise auf Fremdverschulden haben sich nicht ergeben. Die Obduktion soll nun die Todesursache klären.

23.09.2005 | Polizei FFB | 3934

[Showem 868]

I read that story in the paper yesterday. What I can't believe is that he went missing on Thursday, but it took them until the Tuesday to report him missing.

[Kza 49]

I can believe it, Kiwi mindset, I would have just assumed he's off on a mish.

[billybob 160]

On a sign next to the path from Andechs to the SBahn it says, if memory serves, that about 30 people have died on that path over the years.

 

pissed people - steep drop - not good

 

You would have thought that they would put up a half-decent barrier.

[Malcolm Spudbury 3,441]

This photo is from 2003:

 

[billybob 160]

Thanks Malcolm.

 

Memory has exageratted it but it's still too much.

 

Poor guy though - you go out for a couple of beers and end up dead.

[Twirlie 1]

New Zealander found dead after drinking binge

 

 

A 23-year-old New Zealand tourist has been found dead on a steep hillside near Munich, a week after he and other visitors reportedly went binge-drinking to 'get fit' for Oktoberfest, German police said Friday.

What does this mean? Binge drinking in order to "get fit" for Oktoberfest?

 

Over the years I've often heard people say similar things.

 

In the pre-Oktoberfest weeks folks say, "let's go for a few training beers".

 

Huh?

 

I guess in the long run the more alcohol you drink the more tolerance you build. But does a single binge session a week in advance give you any more tolerance?

 

And even if it does, what's the point?

 

I just don't get it.

 

It would be cold, heartless, and needlessly unsympathetic of me to say, "serves you right for being so dumb". So I won't say that.

 

Condolences to the family.

[brokenm 37]

 

It would be cold, heartless, and needlessly unsympathetic of me to say, "serves you right for being so dumb". So I won't say that.

 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes it is. People make dumb decisions every day, and quite a few around Oktoberfest, and no one deserves to die because of these poor decisions.

[bluedave 2,499]

My what a caring chap you are Twirlie, I salute your humanity.

 

I can only imagine what you said when people died in an aircrash. Their own fault for flying with a shit airline? :angry:

[Kza 49]

When you consider that people HAVE to get there early and its nice to stay there till the end to enjoy the evening atmosphere too, if you arent in good drinking form you are going to feel tired or bloated around 5pm or earlier. And the first weekend being the best for kiwis, I can easily understand the need for a warm up. He didnt neccesarily do anything stupid and didnt deserve to die. Pretty sad really.

[skint 1]

There but for the grace of God, go I. I had trouble during daylight wandering back to the S-Bahn, imagine when its pitch black without city lights. You probably don't even need to be paralytic.

 

I feel for his family and his travel companions who will have a long and lonely flight home.

[sea-king 21]

Terribly sad but I am surprised that something like this hasn't happend sooner. :blink:

[Johnny English 3,071]

 

And even if it does, what's the point?

 

I just don't get it.

It's called humour. No-one is pretending that they are drinking to "get fit" for another drinking event.

[MysteryMan 16]

 

Yes it is. People make dumb decisions every day, and quite a few around Oktoberfest, and no one desrves to die because of these poor decisions.

Of course he doesn't deserve to die, but it happens. But it is also wrong to try to lay the blame on somebody elses doorstep. People are responsible for their own actions.

[brokenm 37]

Whose laying blame? Most people are saying it is an unfortunate accident.

[bludger 104]

I'll resist the temptation to comment on the binge drinking mentality of the anglo-saxon cultures (whoops I just did).

 

I walked along that road once at night and it can be so pitch black so that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Extremely dangerous, especially if you are pissed.

 

I too feel sorry for his family.

[Twirlie 1]

 

It's called humour.  No-one is pretending that they are drinking to "get fit" for another drinking event.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes. I realised it was an attempt at humour. I think my point was that this "joke" isn't particularly funny. And Kiwiboy isn't laughing now.

[eriiki tubbs 5]

 

I walked along that road once at night and it can be so pitch black so that you can't see your hand in front of your face.  Extremely dangerous, especially if you are pissed.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I find it incredulous that they don't have lighting installed on this path, particulary with 11 deaths so far (presumably where the majority happened during dark hours). Whoever is in charge of this path is partly to blame for this poor guy's death.

[MysteryMan 16]

 

Whose laying blame? Most people are saying it is an unfortunate accident.

It was only a matter of time. ^^^^

[Kza 49]

 

I find it incredulous that they don't have lighting installed on this path

Disagree, the whole point is to get out into the raw nature a bit up in the hills etc, I get slightly dismayed when I see concrete and fencing up there let alone friggen light pollution. Whats next, an escalator? You may as well just stay in town and drink.