Fatal Avalanches in Europe
A group of six skiers including a professional guide from La Plagne was descending the Rodzins Couloir on the north face of BellecĂ´te on Boxing Day.
It is a steep and well-known off-piste route above the resort.
Four of the skiers, including the guide, were carried and buried while the other two alerted authorities.
The La Plagne mountain rescue teams received an alert at 11:47 a.m.
Two helicopters were deployed- they were carrying five rescuers, two doctors, and a dog handler.
An initial slab fracture approximately 2m released near the top of the couloir, followed by a second, much larger slide measuring up to 200m wide.
Three members of the group were buried in the debris, while a fourth skier remained on the surface.
All were wearing avalanche transceivers.
Two people were dug out.
A third skier had been partially buried and had managed to free themself.
A fourth skier, the 60 year old guide, was found in cardiac arrest.
After approximately 15 minutes of resuscitation efforts, rescuers were able to restart his heart.
He was transferred to hospital but died later that day.
The avalanche danger at the time was 2 out of 5 – moderate.
An investigation is underway.
La Plagne on its opening weekend, Saturday 13th November. Image © PlanetSKI
Another skier died in a separate avalanche in the Savoie region in France near Albertville.
The avalanche swept away four backcountry skiers.
One of the was found in cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
We will bring you further details as we receive them.
Ther ehve been a number of other non-fatal avalanches near the France/Italian border after fresh snow.
Incidents occurred in Val d’Isere, Molines-en-Queyras and Montgenevre.
In Greece the bodies of four hikers who died in an avalanche were discovered on Boxing Day after a large search operation.
Three men in their 30s were hiking on Xmas Day.
A woman in her mid-30s, who had not been reported missing, was found dead with the others.
The accident happened in the Vardousia mountains in central Greece.
Rescue services, using drones and trained dogs, found the bodies after finding footprints in the area that is popular with hikers and mountaineers.
There was poor weather at the time.
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.
The post Fatal Avalanches in Europe appeared first on PlanetSKI.
Leave a Reply