A 20-year-old Polish skier died Monday after being caught in an avalanche on the Presena Glacier in northern Italy.
Avalanche Claims Life of Polish Skier
A 20-year-old skier from Poland died Monday from injuries sustained in an avalanche that swept him away on the Presena Glacier in northern Italy, according to Italian media reports.
The skier and his brother were skiing off-piste when the avalanche occurred.
Incident Location and Details
The accident took place on a glacier located on the border between the province of Brescia in Lombardy and Trentino, as reported by “La Repubblica.”
The Polish skier was swept away and buried by the avalanche while skiing down a couloir near the ski slope at an altitude of approximately 2700 meters above sea level.
Rescue Efforts and Initial Response
The alarm was raised by witnesses, including other skiers and soldiers from an alpine unit stationed in the ski area.
Upon arrival, two mountain rescuers found the victim’s brother attempting to dig him out of the snow.
Helicopter and Avalanche Dog Deployed
Rescue services were immediately notified, dispatching a helicopter with a rescue team and an avalanche dog.
Hospitalization and Death
The young skier was extracted from the snow unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts were initiated, and he was airlifted to a hospital in Trento in critical condition, where he soon died.
Off-Piste Skiing and Witness Accounts
Witnesses stated that both skiers had standard equipment but were skiing off-piste. The victim’s brother had managed to locate and clear his brother’s airways before rescuers arrived, but his condition was already critical, according to Andrea Zampatti, a councilor from the nearby municipality of Ponte di Legno.
Zampatti added that rescuers responded immediately because the couloir was close to the slopes and lift operators had witnessed the event, but nothing could be done to save the skier.
Investigation Underway
Carabinieri are investigating the circumstances of the accident.