Deadly avalanche in the Pitztal

Mystery of buried alpinist about to be solved?

A snow groomer removed parts of the avalanche in December - but the victim remained missing.(Bild: BR)

A 46-year-old ski tourer has been buried under an avalanche in the Tyrolean Pitztal since Christmas, and numerous searches have been unsuccessful. Now, almost six months after the tragic accident, the search may be on the verge of a breakthrough.

One day before Christmas 2023, a huge dust avalanche reportedly broke loose from the Rofelewand (3353 meters) on the Kaunergrat near Piösmes in the Pitztal. It buried a local ski tourer who was traveling alone in the area of the Rappenkopf. All attempts by the emergency services to find and rescue the man in time failed.

What's more, the local man has remained missing ever since. Search operations by the Innerpitztal Mountain Rescue Service and the Alpine Police in the weeks and months that followed brought no results. Not even the man's equipment, which could have led to the victim himself, turned up. The situation then changed at the end of May.