Avalanche: Comrade shovels buried people out of snow masses
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In Mittersill (Pinzgau), three ski tourers were swept away by an avalanche on the Riegelkopf on Saturday and some were injured. Two men were buried up to their heads. The third in the group dug up the two buried victims with another winter sports enthusiast.
At 1,870 meters above sea level, a slab of snow came loose on Saturday morning and caught the trio, who had climbed in the morning hours at the end of the Amertal valley in the direction of the 2,920 meter high Riegelkopf. At the time of the accident, the tourers had been out and about for an hour.
Buried up to the head
A 48- and a 53-year-old were buried up to the head by the snow masses. The third came to rest on the snow surface and immediately began digging up his ski buddies with a ski tourer who was also on the move. One of the victims was flown by helicopter to the Schwarzach Clinic (Pongau), the other men skied down into the valley themselves, according to the police.
16 mountain rescuers and three helicopters in action
A total of 16 mountain rescuers, the crew of two rescue helicopters and the police helicopter with two Alpine police officers were deployed during the avalanche accident.