Alpine drama in Tyrol

Missing since Christmas: avalanche victim discovered

On the day of the accident, a large search operation took place at the scene.(Bild: ZOOM.TIROL)

A 46-year-old ski tourer had been buried under an avalanche in the Tyrolean Pitztal valley since Christmas and numerous searches were unsuccessful. Now, six months after the tragic accident, the body of the local man has been found.

Since Tuesday morning, exactly 186 days after the terrible accident, it has been a sad certainty. The Innerpitztal mountain rescue team discovered the body of the 46-year-old local man in the huge avalanche that had descended from the Rofelewand (3353 meters) near Piösmes (municipality of St. Leonhard im Pitztal) in the direction of Rappenkopf on 23 December. Libelle Tirol flew the body down into the valley.

Skis found at the end of May
The victim's touring skis had already been found at the end of May. However, the enormous amount of snow in the area of the 2320-metre-high Rappenkopf at that time had not yet released the victim himself.

Only the melting snow combined with the high temperatures of the past few days allowed the 46-year-old to be found.