Death in an avalanche

“He probably wouldn’t have survived even with an airbag”

Despite a quick and successful search by the mountain rescuers, the only thing that could be determined was the death of the man from Lungau.(Bild: Bergrettung Lungau)

Despite being well equipped, the 73-year-old avalanche victim from Lungau had no chance. The mountain rescue team arrived quickly, but could do nothing more. Even the airbag would not have helped him, according to a mountain rescuer.

Avalanche tragedy the day after Christmas: On December 25, a local man went on a ski tour in Lungau and did not return. The 73-year-old former teacher triggered a large snow slab around half past eleven at noon, which was around 60 meters long and 50 meters wide. Five mountain rescuers who happened to be present launched a search operation. A short time later they found the man, but all help came too late. The avalanche crushed the man. 

"Deploying the airbag in seconds is not easy"
 Andreas Macheiner from Mauterndorf Mountain Rescue explains: "The airbag in the man's rucksack was intact. He was no longer able to deploy it. Although I don't think the man would have survived even with the airbag." To deploy the airbag, a lever on the left shoulder usually has to be pulled. "Pulling it is not easy, especially with thick gloves. Deploying the airbag in a matter of seconds is particularly difficult," says Macheiner. In addition, the avalanche was so massive that even the airbag would not have saved the well-equipped man from Lungau.

A total of 35 mountain rescuers from Mauterndorf, Tamsweg, Zederhaus and Muhr were deployed. The volunteer fire department, the Alpine police, two helicopter teams, two mountain rescue dog handlers and the Red Cross crisis intervention team also supported the operation.