21-Year-Old Woman Dies in DIY Bungee Jumping Accident at German Quarry

A 21-year-old woman from Aschersleben died on October 11, 2026, during a self-organized Bungee-jumping outing in a disused quarry in Warstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, according to reports by n-tv.de and MDR.de. Police in Soest stated that the victim and four companions rigged their own jumping equipment to ropes already stretched across the rock face, resulting in a fatal impact against the cliff during her second descent.

Fatal Fall at Warstein Quarry

The incident occurred on October 10, 2026, at approximately 17:15 local time in a limestone quarry in the Sauerland region, as reported by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). The group of five adults, aged 19 to 34, had traveled from Saxony-Anhalt for a recreational climbing trip, according to WELT. Investigators noted that while climbing is officially permitted in the abandoned Warstein quarry and features routes designated by the German Alpine Club, the group had rigged their own Bungee apparatus using a highline—a double rope strung between two cliff edges—along with a separate Bungee cord, WELT reported.

A 34-year-old participant from Siegen completed the first jump without incident, according to WELT. When the 21-year-old woman took her turn, she did not plunge freely into open space, but instead swung and struck her head against the rock wall, sustaining severe injuries, MDR.de reported. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation at the scene, but she succumbed to her injuries on-site, according to police statements cited by n-tv.de.

Police Retract Initial Climbing Accident Statement

Local authorities initially told reporters that the victim had suffered a fatal 15-meter fall during a routine climbing attempt, according to MDR.de. Police officials corrected those details the following day after confirming the presence of the improvised Bungee setup, n-tv.de reported. Investigators from the Soest police department stated that the four surviving companions were treated at the scene by emergency pastoral workers from the fire department, according to MDR.de.

Authorities have found no evidence of third-party involvement or foul play, classifying the event as a tragic accident, n-tv.de reported. The exact mechanical and physical factors that caused the woman to strike the cliff wall instead of clearing the drop remain under investigation by local authorities, according to FAZ.