The second incident involved a Swiss skier, a 30-year-old woman, who was killed in an avalanche in the Haute-Savoie region, near Chamonix. She was skiing with her brother, who was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests, while their father was unharmed. All three had anti-avalanche airbags, a precaution commonly used by backcountry skiers venturing into dangerous terrains in the Mont Blanc massif mountain range. This calamity follows a previous tragedy on Tuesday, when a 55-year-old Brazilian-Portuguese skier was also killed in a large avalanche on an off-piste section of Mont Blanc. The series of incidents raises concerns regarding ski safety, particularly in off-piste areas, where dangers can escalate rapidly.
Tragic Avalanches Claim Lives of Five Skis in French Alps
Tragic Avalanches Claim Lives of Five Skis in French Alps
In a series of tragic events, five skiers have lost their lives in two avalanches in the French Alps, highlighting the dangers of off-piste skiing.
On Wednesday, the French Alps witnessed devastating avalanches that resulted in the death of five skiers, confirmed local officials. The first avalanche occurred in Val-Cenis, located in the southeastern Savoie region, where four Norwegians tragically lost their lives. Three of the deceased were killed instantly, while a fourth, a woman, succumbed to severe hypothermia and cardiorespiratory arrest in a nearby hospital. They were part of a larger group of seven skiers, three of whom were uninjured and reportedly equipped with avalanche beacons during their off-piste adventure, which is known for its increased risks. Mayor Jacques Arnoux of Val-Cenis described the avalanche as substantial, stating that it was triggered outside the designated ski area.
