Safety improvements at Stuðlagil delayed after fatal accident involving foreign woman in Iceland

Security improvements at Stuðlagil have been delayed due to planning issues following a fatal accident that occurred yesterday. The landowner has been unable to access funding from the Tourist Site Development Fund because a necessary material extraction plan was missing from the official documentation.

Significant safety enhancements were planned at Stuðlagil after the tragic incident where a foreign woman fell and was discovered dead in the Jökulsá á Dal River. She was at the site with her husband, who also faced danger when he jumped into the frigid river after her. The landowner was first on the scene and managed to rescue the man from the water, but later found the woman downstream.

Concerns about the risk of falls at Stuðlagil have been raised repeatedly, as tourists often venture to the edge to capture the area’s beauty. While improvements have been made on one side of the gorge, including the installation of a sturdy stairway and viewing platform with railings, visitors have traversed beyond these structures seeking better views. This summer, work was undertaken to create pathways and additional viewing platforms, but these projects are still ongoing.

The landowner stated that approval for a funding grant for some of the necessary improvements was secured, but urgent safety enhancements could not be implemented this summer due to the need to re-advertise the zoning plan. This plan has now been submitted to the Planning Agency after receiving approval from local authorities. Despite the setbacks, there is potential to undertake temporary measures based on existing main plans in consultation with police investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.