American woman who was pushed and fell 50m near German castle released from hospital

Authorities say an American man assaulted two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle, leaving one of the women dead. Photo / Frank Rumpenhorst, dpa via AP

Police in southern Germany said an American tourist who was pushed into a ravine during an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which her 21-year-old friend was killed has been released from the hospital.

The 22-year-old woman had tried to stop a 30-year-old Michigan man from allegedly assaulting her friend after luring them onto a trail leading to a viewpoint overlooking the famous castle, which draws more than a million tourists every year.

The Marienbr'cke bridge, near where a 30-year-old man met two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail before attacking the younger woman. Photo / Frank Rumpenhorst, dpa via AP

The older woman fell nearly 50 metres down a steep slope but was able to leave the hospital Friday, police spokesperson Holger Stabik said.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers shortly after the attack Wednesday, but the younger victim later died of her injuries in the hospital.

The suspect, whose name like those of the victims wasn’t released due to German privacy rules, was arrested shortly after the incident. He is being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and attempted sexual assault.

A suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany, after allegedly assaulting two US tourists. Photo / Eric Abneri via AP

Stabik said police have received about two dozen photos and videos on a specially created website and are appealing for anyone with additional images of the suspect and victims to come forward.

Prosecutors said the women did not know the man until the incident.

A spokesperson for the prosecutors’ office in Kempten, Thomas Hörmann, said the investigation into the incident is continuing but it may be three or four months before authorities decide on an indictment.