Avalanche Buries Three on Avalanche Safety Course

9th December 2024

They were amoung dozens of people  participating in a safety course in the Oberalp Pass in eastern Switzerland.

The 30m slab avalanche hit some of the group and they were rescued by others in the group.

The forty people had been carrying out exercises as part of an avalanche course on a slope near the top of the pass in the canton of Graubünden.

“Practice became serious,” said the Swiss rescue service, Rega.

A rescue team was despatched but others in the group managed to dig the three out within 10 minutes before the team arrived.

“They were in good condition, given the circumstances,” added Rega.

One person was flown to a nearby hospital for a checkup.

Rega stressed that rapid rescue was the most decisive factor for the survival of people buried in avalanches.

Avalanche danger. Image c/o PlanetSKI.