Resuscitation unsuccessful

Avalanches in Tyrol claim one life

A total of nine avalanches were also reported in the Zillertal valley in Tyrol, but these were minor.(Bild: ZOOM Tirol)

On Ash Wednesday, mountain rescue teams were once again called into action due to numerous avalanches across Austria. By the afternoon, over 30 avalanches had been reported in Tyrol alone. Two people have died in Tyrol and one in Vorarlberg. Several avalanches were also reported in Salzburg – all triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. 

The first alarm was received shortly before 11 a.m. "Avalanche in alpine terrain, one person buried," was the message for Kirchberg in Tyrol. "A search for a buried person is currently underway in the Brunn area," said the shift supervisor at the control center when asked. Two helicopters and mountain rescue services were involved in the search operation.

According to the Kitzbühel mountain railways, the avalanche occurred in the Pengelstein area. Two 20-year-old Austrians were skiing in the open ski area. When one of them entered a steep slope, the snow masses suddenly started moving and dragged him about 250 meters downhill through a narrow gully.

"When the avalanche came to a halt, the second 20-year-old began searching and locating him with his avalanche transceiver. Six other freeriders who also noticed the incident immediately came to his aid," according to the police. After about 20 minutes, the buried man was dug out from a depth of over two meters and rescued. After about three minutes of resuscitation, his cardiovascular system was restored and the 20-year-old was subsequently taken to Innsbruck Hospital. He is in intensive care with life-threatening injuries.

Two people were completely buried and one was partially buried.

Der Schichtführer der Leitstelle Tirol

Three people buried in Fiss
Just a few minutes later, shortly after 11 a.m., the next emergency call came in. Three people were reported buried in Fiss. "Two people were completely buried and one was partially buried," said the shift supervisor. Four helicopters, several mountain rescue teams, and dog teams were deployed in Fiss. According to Fisser Bergbahnen, the avalanche occurred in the Adlerroute area, a closed ski route.

Only two winter sports enthusiasts with avalanche transceivers
Three Dutch nationals aged 71 and 41 (father and son) and 34 triggered a 50-meter-wide snow slab avalanche during their descent. Only the two younger men were equipped with avalanche transceivers. "The 41-year-old was partially buried, but he was able to free himself and make an emergency call. He managed to locate and dig out the 34-year-old, who was completely buried," investigators explained. However, it took about an hour for an avalanche search dog to locate the 71-year-old about 300 meters below the avalanche break in the snow masses, whereupon he was dug out by rescuers.

Resuscitation attempts unsuccessful
After about 20 minutes of resuscitation efforts by two emergency doctors at the scene, the man was pronounced dead. The body was flown down to the valley by the Interior Ministry's helicopter. The 41-year-old, who had suffered serious injuries, was taken by rescue helicopter to the hospital in Zams, and the 34-year-old was taken down to the valley by mountain rescue to see a doctor.

One of the avalanches occurred in Kirchberg in Tyrol.(Bild: ZOOM Tirol)

Ski tourer died in the Navis Valley
In the early afternoon, according to the authorities, a snow slab also broke loose in the Navis Valley, a side valley of the Wipp Valley, in the district of Innsbruck-Land. Two ski tourers – a 43-year-old and a 50-year-old German – turned back on the way to the Geier (2857 m) due to the avalanche danger. However, during the descent, the snow masses broke loose and swept both men away.

"One 43-year-old was completely buried, the other partially buried," according to the police. The partially buried man was able to free himself, then dug out his colleague and began to resuscitate him. The emergency doctor from a rescue helicopter then continued the resuscitation. However, the 43-year-old German died at the scene of the accident.

One dead in Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg also reported one death after an avalanche. The winter sports enthusiast was buried at noon and died at the scene of the accident, as confirmed by the rescue and fire department control center. Details about the accident and the identity of the victim were not known at the time. 

On Wednesday, the avalanche situation throughout western Austria was very precarious. According to the Tyrol control center, more than 30 avalanches were reported in this province alone by early afternoon. The districts of Landeck, Schwaz, and Kitzbühel were particularly affected. Emergency helicopters were deployed in 14 cases. According to the police, in many cases no buried victims were ultimately found.

As reported, the fourth warning level on the five-level scale was in effect on Wednesday. This means that pronounced weak layers in the snow can be easily triggered. Conditions were described as "dangerous" for activities away from the secured slopes.