Irish skier, 29, dies in Swiss Alps avalanche
Crews pulled victim from snow but he passed away in hospital
A YOUNG Irishman has died in an avalanche in Switzerland.
The 29-year-old, who had been in a group of three, was killed on Monday in the area of Col des Gentianes at Siviez near Nendaz.
The skiers left the marked slope to go off-piste and the man was engulfed following the avalanche.
Brave emergency services pulled him from the snow and he was flown to Sion Hospital, where he later died. It is believed that he lived in Valais. He is the seventh person to die due to avalanches in the Swiss Alps over the past five days, with a British man also losing his life.
In a statement, Swiss Police said: “On Monday at around 12.20pm, three skiers left the marked slope.
“When a snow plow broke, one of the skiers was swept away and buried.
“After the rescue, he was flown by helicopter to the Sion hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
“The victim is a 29-yearold Irish national residing in Valais. The public prosecutor has opened an investigation.”
The British man, 38, was with nine other people when they were engulfed by snow while skiing off piste.
An investigation has been launched into the tragedy which took place at the Swiss resort of Verbier.
The deaths are two of seven to occur across multiple avalanches, with others at Emmetten, Engelberg, Klosters, Veytaux and the Bernese Oberland.
According to Swiss Mountain Rescue, there have been 77 avalanches this year involving 104 people.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “The Department is aware of the case and stands ready to provide consular assistance.”
One of the skiers was swept away and buried
SWISS POLICE YESTERDAY