A ski trip in the mountains of Vorarlberg has become a nightmare for a group of eight students from Baden-Württemberg. Four of the recreational athletes were buried under an avalanche, one 20-year-old was almost killed.
On Saturday morning, the students from the Konstanz area started to climb up from the Lindauer Hütte in the direction of the Drei Türme – three of the winter sports enthusiasts were on touring skis, the other five on snowshoes. Due to the increasingly warm temperatures and the associated risk of avalanches, the group decided to forego the final climb and turn back instead.
A 100-foot-wide slab of snow came loose
No sooner had they turned around than a pack of snow about 100 meters wide broke loose about 200 meters above the students. A total of four people were caught by the avalanche, including a 20-year-old snowshoe hiker – the young woman was dragged about 40 meters and completely buried. Although she was able to be dug up by two of her comrades a little later, by then she had become unresponsive. Dramatic minutes ensued at 2,000 meters above sea level: a medical student began CPR – and breathing even resumed!
Shortly afterwards, the crew of the rescue helicopter “C8” flew in – the 20-year-old was rescued with a rope and then taken to hospital. The other three victims got off lightly. All of them were only partially buried and, with the help of their comrades, were able to free themselves unharmed from the snow masses.
Snowshoe hikers without aid kits on the way
At the time of the accident, avalanche warning level 3 was issued – but with the explicit comment that the danger can quickly increase as the temperature rises. The students can also be accused of a certain negligence with regard to their equipment: the three ski tourers carried LWS devices, shovels and probes, but the snowshoe hikers were on their way without any aids.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
