Rochat-Moser succumbs to injuries

Rochat-Moser celebrates her 1997 Jungfrau marathon win Keystone Archive

Former Swiss marathon runner Franziska Rochat-Moser has died in hospital from injuries suffered in an avalanche.

Vaud police said on Thursday that the 35-year-old had succumbed to her injuries after having been in a critical condition for more than 24 hours.

Rochat-Moser had been skiing with two friends at Les Diablerets in canton Vaud, when she was caught in a slab avalanche, which dragged her down the mountain for about 600 metres.

One of her companions was able to dig her out of the avalanche with the help of a location bleeper, while the other man contacted a mountain rescue helicopter.

New York Marathon

The talented marathon runner earned international recognition in 1997 when she won the prestigious New York marathon. Two years later she set the current Swiss marathon record when she finished the Boston marathon in second place with a time of 2:25’51”.

After struggling with a recurring hip problem, Rochat-Moser announced her retirement from the sport last year, but remained heavily involved with the running world.

Prior to her accident, she was asked to take over from Jacqueline Ryffel as the president of the Swiss women’s running committee.

Rochat-Moser was a lawyer by profession but gave up her career when she married chef Philippe Rochat to help him run the gourmet Girardet restaurant in her hometown of Cressier.

swissinfo with agencies