Drama in Tyrol

Ischl mountain rescuers escaped avalanche death by chance

In the background is the 180-metre-long and 80-metre-wide avalanche in which three Dutch ski tourers died.(Bild: BR Sölden)

The avalanche drama with three dead Dutchmen in Tyrol - a 15-strong group of Bad Ischl mountain rescuers almost died in the same way during a training course in the accident area, but unlike the tourists, they were lucky.

The tragic avalanche accident with three fatalities on Thursday in Vent, Tyrol, also caused shock in Bad Ischl. A 15-strong group from the local mountain rescue team was currently completing a winter training course there and had planned a tour to the Martin-Busch-Hütte for the same day. The 18-strong group from Holland was also heading there when an 80-metre-wide snow slab fell, fatally burying three winter sports enthusiasts.

Renouncing the tour
"Thankfully, we reached our people relatively quickly on the phone and they were able to give the all-clear," says Bernhard Schmid, Deputy Head of the Upper Austrian Mountain Rescue Service and himself a member of the Bad Ischl branch. Fortunately, the team from Ischl had not started the tour, were in their accommodation at the time of the accident and were able to continue their training the next day.