Around noon on Sunday in Pfäfers (SG), a tree fell, killing a 42-year-old mother and her six-year-old son. Both died at the scene of their serious injuries.
The woman and her child were walking with others towards the Tamina Gorge when the tree fell shortly before 11:50 a.m., St Welsh cantonal police said. At the place in question, a practically vertical rock wall borders the path. The upper edge of this wall is covered with trees, and it was one of them that fell.
The emergency services could only confirm the death of the two people, who lived in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. A psychological rescue team took care of the relatives.
The walking path between Bad Ragaz and the Tamina Gorge is very popular: hundreds of people take it on days off. It is closed to private traffic, but a postal bus runs there once an hour.
After the accident, authorities closed all nearby hiking trails. The path concerned will remain closed at least until Monday evening, as will the restaurant at the end of the route of approximately four kilometers. On Monday, specialists will carry out checks.
Employees of the Road Inspectorate already check the place three times a week, the last check having taken place on Friday afternoon. In addition, every spring forestry experts cut down trees if necessary.
Sunday evening, it was not possible to explain how the drama could have taken place and if it is linked to the heavy rains which have fallen on the canton of Saint-Gall in recent days. In addition to the police, firefighters and emergency services, representatives of the authorities went to the scene.