American college grad, 22, leaves hospital days after she was hurled 165ft down German ravine
A university graduate who miraculously survived being thrown 50 meters into a ravine near Germany’s ‘Cinderella’ castle has left hospital and is expected to fly back to the US.
Kelsey Chang, 22, was released from hospital in the town of Murnau am Staffelesse after suffering only cuts and bruises from the massive fall.
Her friend Eva Liu, 21, died after being pushed down the same steep slope by another American tourist after an attempted sexual assault at Bavaria’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle.
Chang, of Bloomington, Illinois, and Liu, of Naperville, Illinois, were allegedly attacked by the unnamed 30-year-old on Wednesday and pushed off a narrow path.
The 22-year-old miraculously survived because a fallen tree kept her from falling further into the ravine.
Kelsey Chang, 22, who miraculously survived being thrown 50 meters into a ravine near Germany’s ‘Cinderella’ castle, has left hospital and is expected to fly back to the US.
Liu suffered serious injuries and later died after being airlifted to hospital.
The two recent graduates of the University of Illinois were on a “life journey” after college.
Liu’s father was said to be in Munich to collect his daughter’s belongings from a budget hotel she stayed in before visiting the castle.
After an autopsy, her body will be released and repatriated back to the US
Her grieving father is being assisted by officials from the US consulate in the German city to make arrangements.
Staff at the Siebel hotel in central Munich said they stowed both women’s belongings after taking them from their ground-floor room.
A member of the US consulate is expected to collect the personal belongings, but it remains unclear when they will.
Footage of the American tourist arrested in connection with the attack surfaced in the aftermath of the horrific incident.
The 30-year-old, whose name has not been released by German officials, could be seen being led away from the crime scene in handcuffs.
Eva Liu of Naperville, Illinois, was killed when she was thrown into a ravine near the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle – said to have inspired Disney’s ‘Cinderalla’ castle
According to police, the women encountered a 30-year-old American tourist on a trail on or near the Marienbrucke Bridge, which is hugely popular as it offers views of the 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle — which attracts about 1.4 million visitors a year
Prosecutors said he will likely face trial in Bavaria and not be extradited to the US
He is charged with murder, attempted murder and attempted assault.
Liu’s passing shocked the community around Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions and the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
Willibold Graf, the honorary mayor of Kempten, said: ‘This case is very unusual. It is not normal for such a crime here – with a woman thrown over the cliff of a canyon. We have never had such an incident in this city. I’ve never known anything like it.’
Police said the two women met their attacker near the Marienbrucke Bridge – a narrow pedestrian bridge that rises 300 feet above a canyon at its highest point.
It is alleged that the 30-year-old persuaded the two graduates to follow him down a secluded trail that led to a “good vantage point” where he “physically attacked” Chang.
The unnamed suspect is suspected of murder, attempted murder and attempted assault. He will face trial in Bavaria and will not be extradited to the US
When her Liu tried to intervene, it was alleged that he tried to strangle her before pushing her into the ravine.
Police said an “attempted sex crime” was subsequently committed against the 21-year-old before she was also pushed.
The pair were taken away by helicopter, but Liu later died in hospital from the injuries she sustained in the fall.
Police are still investigating the case and are not releasing details about the suspect’s motive or relationship with the girls.
The University of Illinois confirmed the barbaric attack on the couple, Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler said, “Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang.
“Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important achievement without fear of such a tragic outcome.”
Kaler revealed that Liu had a BS in Computer Science in May 2023 and Chang received a BS in Computer Engineering at the same time.
Illinois Math and Science Academy chief public affairs officer Tami Armstrong said Liu was “a dedicated, academically talented and engaged student” who served on the student planning committee for the 2018 International Student Science Fair held on campus.
Tourists continued to flock to the Marienbrucke bridge on Friday despite the gruesome death
Liu was also “an adept student researcher” who participated in IMSA’s Student Inquiry and Research program.
“On behalf of our administration, faculty and staff, we are saddened by this loss and we mourn with her family and loved ones,” Armstrong said.
“Losing a student, especially in such a tragic way, hurts us all.”
Before leaving for Europe, Liu posted on LinkedIn that she was about to start working as a software engineer at Microsoft, where she had completed an internship.
She also interned at Optum, part of United Health Group, in Schaumburg, as well as M1 in Chicago and Caterpillar in Peoria.