Serbian hiker dies in the Prokletije mountains
A 27-year-old Serbian woman died while hiking above Grebajski Zastan, with the rescue effort hampered by rugged terrain and an emergency landing by a police helicopter.
- A Serbian national, identified by the initials S. R., aged 27, died while hiking above Grebajski Zastan, near the Maja Zastanit peak in the Prokletije range.
- The accident happened around 1 p.m., with two other hikers from Serbia present who called for help immediately.
- A helicopter of the Interior Ministry air unit made an emergency landing near Gusinje after a technical fault during the operation.
- Montenegro's Mountain Rescue Service took part, and the death was confirmed by Montenegrin police in Berane.
A Serbian national died while hiking in the Prokletije mountains, in the area above Grebajski Zastan. The woman has been identified by the initials S. R. (27). Her death was confirmed by Montenegrin police in Berane.
The accident happened around 1 p.m., on a section of the trail leading toward the Maja Zastanit peak. Two other hikers from Serbia were with her. They called for help right away and stayed with her until the rescuers arrived.
What happened on the trail to Maja Zastanit?
A group of three hikers from Serbia set out on the climb above Grebajski Zastan, one of the most beautiful and at the same time most demanding parts of the Prokletije massif. The terrain there is steep, with plenty of loose rock and scree, and conditions can change fast.
Based on what is known so far, the accident occurred on the upper part of the trail, around 1 p.m. The victim’s companions immediately alerted the emergency services and gave first aid, but her injuries left no hope for her survival.
Key circumstances of the case known so far:
- the accident happened above Grebajski Zastan, toward the Maja Zastanit peak
- the group included three hikers, all Serbian nationals
- the call for help was made at once, around 1 p.m.
- the death was confirmed by police in Berane
The exact circumstances of the fall are still being established. In mountaineering accidents of this kind, the most common causes are a slip on wet or crumbling rock, a rockfall and sudden weather changes, but the official report has yet to show what exactly happened.
Why did the rescue operation have to be suspended?
A rescue on such impassable terrain ranks among the hardest tasks for mountain rescue teams. Montenegro’s Mountain Rescue Service took part, with support from the air unit of the Interior Ministry.
The helicopter crew lowered a rescuer on a winch down to the site of the accident. Because of the complexity of the terrain and the proximity of the rocky peaks, the operation had to be suspended during the day and was resumed the following day.
The effort was further complicated by a technical fault on the helicopter. The Interior Ministry air unit aircraft made an emergency landing near Gusinje after a malfunction occurred during the work. The crew brought the helicopter down safely, with no one injured.
Every season the Prokletije draw large numbers of hikers from the region, above all for their spectacular peaks and the Peaks of the Balkans trail network. Precisely because the terrain is so demanding, rescue services have warned for years that climbs in this massif require serious preparation, the right equipment and a careful read of the weather.
Do hiking trails in our region have enough signage and rapid-response services for impassable terrain?
