Rescue bid led to teenager’s death in avalanche: family

THE parents of a Sydney teenager killed while skiing in Austria have revealed the avalanche that engulfed their son was triggered when a ski patrol was trying to rescue the family.

Max Meyer ( pictured) and his parents issued a call for help after getting stuck in deep snow in a narrow valley between two main runs at St Anton resort in Tyrol last Wednesday.

They were advised by the ski patrol to stay where they were. “At that point in time we were uninjured, and in no im- mediate danger,” Thomas Meyer and Julie Schatz said in a statement yesterday.

“In the process of the ski patrol trying to reach us by skiing down from above us on the opposite side of the valley, an ava- lanche was triggered which engulfed us and tragically led to the death of our son Max.” Rescuers reportedly retrieved Max’s body some 20 minutes later but he could not be revived.

“It has been confirmed to us by the coroner that Max’s death was instant and painless,” his parents said in the statement.

The 16-year-old was a student at Sydney’s International Grammar School which has offered support to his family and fellow students.

St Anton police are investigating the incident.