Boardercross specialist Sophie Hediger has died at the age of 26.Image: KEYSTONE
The 26-year-old young woman, who participated in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2022, was swept away by an avalanche on Monday in Arosa (GR).
24.12.2024, 12:2524.12.2024, 15:29
It’s a huge loss for Swiss snowboarding. Sophie Hediger, boardercross specialist, died on Monday in an avalanche, Swiss-Ski announced on Tuesday. “We are stunned and we are thinking of Sophie’s family, to whom we offer our most sincere condolences,” declared Walter Reusser, CEO Sport of the federation.
“For the Swiss-Ski family, Sophie’s tragic death casts a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immensely sad. We will keep fond memories of Sophie.”
Walter Reusser
In agreement with the bereaved family and their companion, Swiss-Ski will not provide any further information on the death of Sophie Hediger and asks to respect the private sphere of the bereaved, writes the federation.
Resuscitation attempts on site
Accompanied by her companion, the 26-year-old athlete took a closed track at 1:15 p.m. on Monday in Arosa (GR), the Grisons police explained on Tuesday, without mentioning the name of Sophie Hediger. As they were leaving the closed section, the snowboarder was caught in an avalanche.
Her companion alerted the emergency services and began looking for the buried champion. This was able to be located around 3:30 p.m. and finally cleared of snow masses.
According to the cantonal police, resuscitation attempts on site had to be interrupted because they were unsuccessful. His death was pronounced on the spot. Rescuers from the Swiss Alpine Club (CAS) as well as search dogs, Rega, employees of the Arosa Lenzerheide ski lifts and members of the Alpine police were mobilized. An investigation has been opened.
The Zurich resident, also passionate about freeride, had her first two podiums in the boardercross World Cup during the 2023/24 season. She had also finished second in the dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Championships in St. Moritz, and was therefore logically aiming for a world medal next March at home.
(ats/rock)
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