A skier died and a second was injured on Saturday when their group accidentally triggered an avalanche while skiing in a difficult-to-access area of Grand Teton National Park in the United States. United.
“The helicopter team took off, but returned when weather conditions did not permit aerial intervention. The snowmobile team was also unable to join the group of skiers due to the difficult conditions,” Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) reported on Facebook on Sunday, according to ABC News.
Shortly before noon on Saturday, Teton County emergency services were called to Togwotee Pass in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, after being alerted following an avalanche, according to the American media.
According to initial information, it was a group of four skiers who were making an off-piste ascent in seal skins in the Breccia cliffs region when they allegedly triggered an avalanche.
Two of them would have been swept away by the flow of snow, which would have partially buried one of the skiers, and completely suffocated the second, reported the American media.
Unfortunately, due to dangerous weather conditions, it was not until around 3:47 p.m. that first responders arrived on scene, administering first aid to the skier injured in the lower leg.
He was rushed to the scene on a stretcher dragged by volunteer skiers to an ambulance.
At the same time, others worked to recover the body of the deceased skier buried under the snow.
The identities of the skiers have not been released, according to ABC News.
“TCSAR extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier,” the organization said in writing.
For TCSAR, this incident is an “important reminder” that the availability of emergency services must be taken into account when planning an off-piste outing in the mountains, since a rescue mission can take significantly longer when “the helicopter is grounded” due to weather conditions, we can read.
