Intense snowfall and wind are becoming a major risk in Austria’s ski areas: masses of snow can easily come loose – and bury people under them. This was now fatal for a skier from Tyrol.
A man has been found dead under an avalanche in Austria. According to the police, the missing person in the Obergurgl/Hochgurgl ski area had been searched for since Friday evening. In Tyrol in particular, numerous reports of avalanches were received, but mostly no people were recorded.
According to the “Bild” newspaper, the 32-year-old Chinese was skiing with two friends. Accordingly, the three drove off-piste. When the later victim jumped over an edge of the terrain and fell, he released a 150 meter wide slab of snow. This swept him away and buried him while the other two skiers were able to save themselves. With the help of an avalanche beeper, they were finally able to locate their friend. When the rescue workers arrived, the buried person was dug up. However, any resuscitation measures were of no use, and the man died on the way to the hospital.
On the Arlberg, the search for two other people who were possibly buried was initially stopped because the situation was critical for the rescue teams themselves. Heavy snowfall and wind have increased the danger. Experts appealed to winter sports enthusiasts to exercise great caution. Inexperienced skiers should not leave the slopes at the moment. At higher altitudes, there was a widespread avalanche danger of level four on the five-part scale on Saturday.
Road traffic was also severely hampered. The ÖAMTC traffic club counted 17 roadblocks in the morning due to the risk of avalanches. Snow chains were compulsory on 46 road sections.
(This article was first published on Saturday, February 04, 2023.)
