58-year-old injured

Helicopter operation impossible after avalanche

Symbolic image(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

An avalanche occurred in the rear Ötztal valley in Tyrol on Sunday afternoon, in which a 58-year-old Austrian was buried. He was rescued from the masses of snow. A helicopter operation was initially not possible due to adverse weather conditions. 

The avalanche occurred in the area of the so-called Hauslabkogel in the Vent area. A group of several people were probably in the area at the time of the accident when one of them was caught and buried by the masses of snow. It was a 58-year-old Austrian man. 

"The man was rescued from the avalanche by four friends who were in the vicinity of the avalanche cone and received first aid," the police announced in the evening. No other people were buried. 

The avalanche victim was responsive, but was unable to descend to the valley on his own due to the injuries sustained.

A helicopter flight had to be aborted due to the weather.

Die Polizei zur „Krone“

Helpers on foot to the scene of the accident
Adverse weather conditions presented the emergency services with major challenges right from the start. A helicopter flight to the scene of the accident had to be aborted due to the weather. The helpers had to climb up on foot. The delicate avalanche situation made this a dangerous undertaking. In the evening, the man was brought to the Martin-Busch-Hütte. Transport to hospital is planned for Monday, "as the weather and avalanche conditions do not allow for earlier transportation and the accident victim's state of health permits this after clarification", the police said in the evening. 

The rescue operation was coordinated by Sölden Mountain Rescue and Vent Mountain Rescue with an alpinist from the Sölden police station.

Increased risk of avalanches 
Following the recent snowfall, avalanche warning level 3 out of 5 is in force in some areas of Tyrol's mountains. Only on Saturday, there was an avalanche in East Tyrol with one buried person.