Hautes-Alpes: A cross-country skier dies in an avalanche.

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FAYOLL / SIPA

A 58-year-old cross-country skier died on Tuesday in the Hautes-Alpes after being buried by a large-scale avalanche, which also left a minor injured in a group of four other practitioners, we learned. at the Gap prosecutor's office.

The victim died shortly after 4 p.m. at Briançon hospital, where she had been transported in serious condition in the early afternoon after being found under 1.80 meters of snow by mountain rescuers.

"A fall of about 200 meters"

“The victim was skiing alone.

She was swept away in a fall of about 200 meters, ”Gap public prosecutor Florent Crouhy told AFP, who opened an investigation for manslaughter.

The flow, which started shortly after noon in the town of Villar-d'Arêne, also "destabilized" a group of four other cross-country skiers who were moving about twenty meters above the fifty-year-old at the time of the tragedy.

The group, in which we only deplore a minor wounded, was supervised by a guide.

Where did the avalanche start?

Arrived quickly on site, the gendarmes of the High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) of Briançon then received reinforcement from their counterparts from the PGHM of Isère.

"The whole question now is to know if the first group is at the origin of the avalanche, or if it was triggered higher", underlined Florent Crouhy, recalling that the avalanche risk was this Tuesday of three on a scale of five on the massifs of the department.

The investigation was entrusted to the PGHM of Briançon.

Miscellaneous

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: A group of hikers is surprised by an avalanche in the Ubaye valley

  • Avalanche

  • Alps

  • Miscellaneous

  • Ski