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A skier in her forties lost her life in an avalanche in the La Norma resort, in Savoie. The tragedy is added to several other accidents linked to avalanches in the Savoyard massifs, very snowy in recent days, one of which killed a 13-year-old skier.
This is the second victim of the week in Savoie: a new deadly avalanche has claimed the life of a 44-year-old woman, who was off-piste in the La Norma resort. The forty-year-old accompanied by her husband and another person, safe and sound, reached an altitude of 2,500 m when their passage triggered a snow slide. The woman was carried away by a first avalanche, before being swept away and covered by a second landslide which was fatal to her, according to a manager of the high mountain gendarmerie platoon (PGHM) of Bourg-Saint-Maurice. At least six men from the PGHM were dispatched to the scene by helicopter, as well as three tracking dogs. But, not wearing an avalanche victim detector (AVD), necessary but not obligatory equipment, it took them almost an hour to find the victim under the snow. Emergency services provided her with first aid, but she could not be resuscitated.
At least six men from the PGHM were dispatched to the scene by helicopter, as well as three tracking dogs. But, not wearing an avalanche victim detector (AVD), necessary but not obligatory equipment, it took them almost an hour to find the victim under the snow. Emergency services provided her with first aid, but she could not be resuscitated.
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Several avalanches this week
The avalanche risk has increased since Tuesday to 3 on a scale of 5 in the Savoyard massifs, which requires increased vigilance from skiers. However, this is not an isolated incident in this very snowy mountainous region of France. A young 14-year-old skier died on Thursday, still in an off-piste area in the Les Arcs area, in the Aiguille Rouge sector. There are also injuries in Savoyard ski resorts.
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An avalanche triggers, two teenagers injured during an off-piste descent with their father
At least 14 people have died in France in avalanches since the start of the year, according to the National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches (ANENA).
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