The Italian skier was caught by a 400-metre-long avalanche on February 5 while scaling the northern flank of the 2,968-metre Piz Daint mountain in canton Graubünden.
Kantonspolizei Graubünden
A 46-year-old Italian skier died on Sunday after being swept away by an avalanche while touring in a mountainous region in southeast Switzerland. At least 11 people have reportedly died in avalanches in the Alps since Friday.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sb
The Italian skier was caught by a 400-metre-long avalanche on February 5 while scaling the northern flank of the 2,968-metre Piz Daint mountain in canton Graubünden. The man was buried and injured in the avalanche despite wearing an avalanche airbag. He died from his injuries in hospital on Sunday, the cantonal police reportedExternal link on Monday.
He was part of a group of eight skiers who were ascending the mountain from the Ofen Pass. On the day of the accident, the avalanche danger in the region was three on a scale of one to five.
More
More
The avalanche survivors
This content was published on
Lake and Forrest Schorderet, passionate free-riders, were hit as they were skiing in the mountains near Saint-Luc in southern Switzerland. For five minutes, Forrest and two friends searched frantically for Lake, buried under the avalanche they had unleashed. A few days later, the former French snowboard champion Julie Pomagalski, 40, was also swept away by…
There have been heavy snow and dozens of avalanches across the Alps over the past week. The Keystone-SDA news agency reported 11 deaths since last Friday.
On Saturday, a 68-year-old Italian ski tourer died in the Reckingen region, in canton Valais, and a second skier was injured after both were swept away by an avalanche.
However, the most serious incidents occurred in Austria. One person was killed and four others were injured in an avalanche in western Austria on Saturday – a day after two other avalanches killed seven skiers. An avalanche in the Bavarian Alps also claimed another fatality.
Heavy snowfall followed by warmer weather has made for unusually dangerous conditions.
The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF said on Friday that so far this winter there had been 45 avalanches in Switzerland involving people (annual average is 100). These had mainly occurred in an area stretching east of the Bernese Oberland to the eastern Alps.
Since 1936, about 2,000 people have died in avalanches in Switzerland. On average, 24 people die in avalanches every year. Over the past 20 years, more than 90% of the fatalities occurred off-piste.
More
More
Why the Swiss are experts at predicting avalanches
This content was published on
Can avalanches be managed? An in-depth look at the latest Swiss snow science.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
This content was published on
A criminal investigation into a Swiss media editor and a former health ministry official over leaked government Covid pandemic strategy is to be closed.
‘James Bond’ Schilthorn summit re-opens in Switzerland
This content was published on
The summit of the Schilthorn mountain in Switzerland will be accessible again from Saturday after being closed for five months.
Swiss lawmakers urge tougher stance with criminal asylum seekers
This content was published on
The Swiss Senate wants to tighten laws to both restrict the movement of asylum seekers being investigated for crimes and to expel the guilty.
Switzerland eyes high-speed train fleet for European connections
This content was published on
Swiss Federal Railways eyes 40 strong high-speed train fleet to service international destinations, such as Italy and France.
This content was published on
Driven by purchases abroad, e-commerce in Switzerland continues to grow, with sales approacheing the CHF15 billion markin 2024.
Switzerland close to further restricting tobacco advertising
This content was published on
Switzerland moves a step closer to restricting tobacco advertising in the print media as one chamber of parliament votes in favour of measures.
Swiss researchers improve therapy for paralysed patients
This content was published on
Using rehabilitation robots and a spinal cord implant, Swiss researchers are helping people with spinal cord injuries to walk again.
New Swiss government minister prepared for defence mandate
This content was published on
New Swiss government minister Martin Pfister says he is prepared for the defence mandate sif he be asked to take on the vacant role.
This content was published on
Lake and Forrest Schorderet, passionate free-riders, were hit as they were skiing in the mountains near Saint-Luc in southern Switzerland. For five minutes, Forrest and two friends searched frantically for Lake, buried under the avalanche they had unleashed. A few days later, the former French snowboard champion Julie Pomagalski, 40, was also swept away by…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.