Ski Mountaineer Survives Night in Crevasse After Avalanche
10th November 2026
The 39-year old man was on his own in the Ambin Valley in France attempting to reach the summit of ‘Sommeille’ mountain when the avalanche struck. NEW
As he made a pitch for the summit on Sunday after overnighting on Saturday in a refuge, he removed his skis and put them on his backpack.
He continued to climb on foot with crampons, and this triggered the avalanche.
He was swept into a crevasse and broke both legs.
He managed to crawl 100m in the crevasse but could not get out of the last section.
A relative alerted the rescue services at 11pm when he did not return home.
- Read the full story in Le Dauphine
They searched until 2am before calling off the search for safety reasons.
The rescue attempt continued at first light on Monday and patrollers in a helicopter saw traces of the avalanche and a ground team with a rescue dog was deployed.
They found some of his equipment and after 4 to 5 hours of digging they found the man.
He was conscious, but suffering from hypothermia.
After winching him to safety he was taken to hospital in Grenoble.
It’s really a miracle,” said Major Haberey from the rescue services.
“They forecast snowfall later that, so after that, we weren’t going back.”
22 CRS were mobilised, six others from the PGHM and three helicopters were engaged: that of the gendarmerie of Modane, Briançon and the civil security helicopter of Grenoble.
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