On June 22, shortly before midnight, the cantonal police of Obwalden received information concerning the disappearance of a person who had gone hiking in the mountains. The 66-year-old had planned to reach Engelberg from Bannalp via Rot Grätli and Rugghubel.
After intensive searches, the body of the missing person was found lifeless on June 24 around 8 a.m. in Engelberg, at the foot of Mount Fulberg. The unfortunate man fell to his death about a hundred meters on terrain described as “uneven” by the police. Several REGA helicopters and the cantonal police of Obwalden and Uri were mobilized for this intervention.
The tragic death of this 66-year-old man directly affects Swiss football. Indeed, it was Markus Stierli, the father of Julia Stierli, player of the Swiss national team. “You went on a hike and never came back. The void you leave is immense. We miss you,” the family wrote in the death notice, several German-speaking media reported.
Julia Stierli has been part of the Nati women’s team since her first cap in 2017. At 29 years old, the one who plays for SC Freiburg (Germany), today has 55 caps in the red jersey with a white cross.
She played Switzerland’s three group matches, in central defense, during Euro 2025 played at home. However, she was on the bench for the round of 16 lost against Spain. She also participated in Euro 2022 in England.
