- Sophie Hediger loses her life in an avalanche accident in Arosa.
- The Zurich native is only 26 years old.
- Last season she reached the podium in the World Cup for the first time.
Sad news just before Christmas: Sophie Hediger, a member of the national snowboard cross team, was caught in an avalanche in Arosa on Monday and could only be rescued dead. The 26-year-old native of Zurich had found a second home in Arosa and died “while freeriding, a beloved hobby,” as Swiss-Ski wrote in a press release.
Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podiums last season. At the World Championships main rehearsal in St. Moritz she came second; Winning a medal at the home World Championships in the Engadin next March was one of her sporting dreams. She was able to fulfill another goal by taking part in the 2022 Olympics in China.
“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” says Walter Reusser, CEO Sport of Swiss-Ski, shocked.
Ambri is also sad
Hediger was in a relationship with Ambri defender Dario Wüthrich. “The Ambri-Piotta Hockey Club is sincerely concerned about the sudden and tragic passing of Dario Wüthrich’s beloved partner Sophie,” said the Ticino-based company.
“The board of directors, players and employees of the Biancoblu express their deepest condolences to the family of Sophie and Dario and wish them a lot of strength in the difficult hours of farewell.”
Traveling on closed slopes
According to information from the Graubünden police, Hediger was accompanied by someone on the closed Black Diamond piste. “They left the closed piste and the woman was caught in an avalanche on a slope. Her companion notified the rescue workers and began searching for the buried victim,” the police wrote.
Accordingly, the athlete was able to be rescued from the snow masses in the afternoon. According to police, resuscitation had to be stopped at the avalanche field without success.
Swiss
