Ski tourer from the Munich area dies in an avalanche
On Tuesday afternoon around 3 p.m., a fatal avalanche accident occurred in the Berchtesgaden Alps, below the Hocheisspitze at an altitude of around 2,400 meters.
Two ski tourers from the Munich area wanted to go to the 2,523 meter high Hocheisspitze together. According to the Oberbayern Süd police headquarters, about 100 meters below the summit, one of the two tourers kicked off a slab of snow about 150 meters wide and 200 meters long.
The 39-year-old man is swept away by an avalanche
The front of the two men, a 54-year-old, was not caught by the slab of snow. However, his companion, a 39-year-old man, who was 20 meters behind him, was swept away by the snow masses in the rocky steep terrain up to the Hintereiskar (around 400 meters in altitude).
The 54-year-old, who had to observe the avalanche, immediately made an emergency call and began searching himself.
Emergency doctor can only determine death after 40 minutes
At around 3.40 p.m. the casualty was located under the snow cover and dug out. According to information from the police headquarters in Oberbayern Süd, the emergency doctor on site could only determine the death of the ski mountaineer. This was buried just over a meter deep.
First, subject to investigation, there is no evidence that his companion is at fault. For this day, the Bavarian avalanche warning service had issued a “moderate” avalanche danger with level 2.
Around 100 helpers on duty
The Alpine Task Forces Rosenheim, Grassau and Berchtesgaden with a total of 40 officials were alerted to the operation. In addition, the Ramsau mountain rescue service was deployed with the support of the surrounding mountain rescue services with 42 helpers and other, smaller units.
Hocheisspitze – Steep and demanding tour
The tour to the Hocheisspitze is a very steep and demanding ski tour that requires absolutely safe avalanche conditions. This ski tour is usually started in late winter or spring. There have already been several serious avalanche accidents there.