German injured

Ski tourer in East Tyrol swept away by avalanche

The C7 emergency helicopter flew the German to hospital.

(Bild: EXPA Pictures. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. // EXPA Pictures. All rigths reserved.)

While traversing a slope on Monday afternoon in Prägraten am Großvenediger in East Tyrol, a ski tourer (43) was swept away by a snow slab. The German was initially able to continue his descent, soldiers from the Austrian Armed Forces later provided him with first aid.

On Monday morning, a group of five Germans set off on the first stage of the "Hoch Tirol" ski tour, which leads from Kasern in South Tyrol to the Essener and Rostocker Hütte in the municipality of Prägraten am Großvenediger.

Snow slab triggered by themselves
At around 3.45 pm, the Germans set off from Reggentörl (3047 meters) in the direction of Essener and Rostocker Hütte (2208 meters). "At an altitude of around 2580 meters, one member of the group, a 43-year-old German national, was crossing a 30 to 35 degree slope alone, whilethe other group members waited in front of the slope," according to the police. The ski tourer triggered a slab avalanche, was swept away and subsequently fell with the snow masses around 20 to 30 meters down a steep gully.

Flown to hospital by helicopter
The man was not buried, but sustained significant injuries to both legs. "One member of the group immediately left for the hut and arranged for an emergency call to be made," said the executive. The other climbers went to the accident victim. The injured man initially descended to Lake Simony himself. There, ten soldiers from the Austrian army, who  had beenat the hut, came  to his aid and brought the injured man to the hut. There he was picked up by the C7 emergency helicopter and flown to hospital in Lienz.