British Skier Dies After Falling in Off-Piste Couloir in Les Arcs, France - SnowBrains

"The second skier, who remained stranded on the steep slope above the accident site, was later evacuated by helicopter by the CRS Alpes. The CRS personnel noted that the off-piste route follows a wide corridor that narrows into a funnel ending at a rocky bar, making falls particularly dangerous. Early-season conditions, including hard snow and a relatively shallow snowpack, were cited as factors that significantly increase the risk of serious accidents in such terrain."

"Rescue services were alerted at 2:29 p.m. and ski patrol reached the scene quickly via the Pré Saint-Esprit area. The skier was found unresponsive and in cardiorespiratory arrest. First aid was immediately administered. A helicopter from the French Air Service (SAF), based in Courchevel, arrived at approximately 3:00 p.m. carrying a doctor and two rescuers from the CRS Alpes (French Mountain Rescue Services). Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, the skier was pronounced dead shortly after."

A 24-year-old British skier died after falling in a steep off-piste couloir in the Chavonnes sector above Arc 2000. Two members of a group began descending a couloir above the Chavonnes avalanche barrier; one lost control, fell several hundred metres, tumbled over a rocky outcrop and came to rest in an old snow deposit. Rescue services reached the scene; the skier was found unresponsive and in cardiorespiratory arrest, received first aid and advanced care from a SAF helicopter team, but was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts. The second skier was later helicopter-evacuated. CRS warned the corridor narrows into a funnel ending at a rocky bar and that early-season hard, shallow snow increases the risk of serious accidents. Les Arcs expressed condolences, offered psychological support to piste patrol and urged extreme caution and avoidance of steep off-piste couloirs during limited snow cover.

Read at SnowBrains