The chairlift on which the fatal accident occurred. | Image: Twitter (X)
A 34-year-old German citizen, identified as Sebastian Hetner, was killed in a chairlift accident at the Savin Kuk ski resort on Mount Durmitor in northern Montenegro on Saturday, December 20, while his wife was seriously injured, Montenegrin newspapers report.
The accident occurred at around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday on chairlift number two when, during operation, one chair reportedly slipped and collided with the chair in front of it. The impact caused passengers to jolt forward, causing Hetner to fall from the chairlift from a height of approximately 70 meters (230 feet), sustaining fatal injuries upon impact. His wife, a 30-year-old German national who was seated in the same chair, remained trapped on the lift following the collision. She suffered severe injuries and was initially transported to the General Hospital in Nikšić. Due to the seriousness of her condition—including an open femur fracture and a head injury—she was later transferred to the Clinical Centre of Montenegro in Podgorica, where she underwent surgery.
The man fell in a steep section from a height of about 70m. | Image: Screenshot YouTube Video
Three other people were left stranded in chairlift seats at significant height and in difficult, inaccessible terrain. Those stranded were citizens of Serbia, Germany and Montenegro. Rescue teams and employees of the Savin Kuk ski resort worked in difficult weather conditions to assist those trapped, delivering blankets and other supplies to protect them from the cold. Footage broadcast by Montenegro’s public broadcaster RTCG showed that the rescue operation was particularly demanding. No additional injuries were reported.
Following the accident, the State Prosecutor’s Office ordered that the ski lift not be put back into operation while investigators carried out an on-site examination. According to local newspapers, however, the resort has restarted lift operations, causing much controversy in Montenegro. According to the resort, the chairlift had undergone all routine checks before the start of the season. The mayor of Žabljak emphasized on Montenegrin TV that the city is dependent on tourism and fears that tourists will avoid the ski resort for that reason.
People stuck on the lift had to be rescued by local teams. | Image: Screenshot YouTube Video
Police and prosecutors have since launched a formal investigation into the fatal accident. Police in Žabljak, acting on the orders of and in coordination with the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Pljevlja, have collected statements from multiple individuals, including those responsible for and employed at the Savin Kuk ski centre.
According to Montenegro’s Police Directorate, relevant documentation has been seized and expert examinations have been ordered as part of the investigation. The prosecutor has formally opened a case, and a mechanical engineering expert is expected to examine the lift to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy.