Several skiers in the Warth-Schröcken ski area (Vorarlberg) were extremely lucky on Tuesday. A total of three people were buried by avalanches, some of them completely. It was frightening: a 21-year-old was out skiing in the open ski area without an avalanche transceiver (LVS) despite the heavy snowfall and the associated avalanche danger.
At around 1:35 p.m., two brothers skied off-piste in the off-piste area next to the Steffisalp Express in open terrain. The 21-year-old skier went first and crossed into a ravine from the ridge area, releasing a slab of snow when entering the slope. The young man was carried away about 100 meters by the avalanche and then completely buried at a depth of 1.40 centimeters. He was not wearing an avalanche transceiver. Buried under masses of snow for 30 minutes. His 23-year-old brother, who was not swept away by the avalanche, observed the course of the accident, informed the emergency services immediately and immediately began rescue efforts. After around 30 minutes, the buried skier was rescued by the mountain rescue service because he was suffering from hypothermia. He was taken to the state hospital in Bregenz for further treatment.Other avalanches a little laterOnly a few minutes earlier, another incident had occurred in the immediate vicinity. At around 1:10 p.m., a group of nine went directly to the mountain station of the Steffisalp Express into the open ski area and skied down the Hubertobel. When a small avalanche went off on the opposite slope, a 53-year-old skier was buried up to his waist, but was able to free himself immediately and continue skiing. Immediately afterwards, a second slab of snow came loose, completely burying a 61-year-old man. Due to the immediate avalanche transceiver search, he was rescued by his comrades after around 15 minutes, slightly injured and suffering from hypothermia. The 61-year-old was taken to Feldkirch Regional Hospital for further treatment.
source site-12