U.S. tourist Kelsey Chang leaves hospital after attack near Neuschwanstein castle that left friend dead

An American tourist who was pushed into a ravine as she tried to save her friend during an attack near Neuschwanstein castle has been released from the hospital.

Kelsey Chang, 22, miraculously survived the attack, which also claimed the life of her 21-year-old friend Eva Liu. They were visiting an idyllic tourist spot, often called Germany’s “Cinderella Castle,” on Wednesday as part of a post-graduate European tour. The pair, both recent graduates of the University of Illinois, were taking in the scenery when they were attacked by another American tourist, identified only as a 30-year-old male they met while sight-seeing.

German authorities said he lured the women onto a trail leading to a viewpoint overlooking the famous castle, which draws more than a million tourists every year. He then attacked Liu and pushed Chang down a steep slope before trying to commit a “sexual offense” on Liu and then forcing her down the slope, too.

Each fell about 165 feet.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik said. “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers shortly after the attack. Liu later died of her injuries in the hospital.

Chang meanwhile survived the attack and was allowed to leave the hospital on Friday, Stabik confirmed Tuesday.

The 30-year-old suspect has been arrested by German police and faces charges of murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual assault.

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

With News Wire Services