fifteenth January 2026
He was swept into an avalanche barrier in Austria and died. Ten individuals have died in avalanches within the Alps since final weekend with a number of rescues. NEW
The boy, from the Czech Republic, was snowboarding off piste within the Austrian resort of Dangerous Gastein.
He was with a pal of comparable age when he triggered the snow slide.
It was 50m broad and carried the boy 10m into the barrier.
Eyewitnesses known as the emergency companies, and rescue crews have been on web site inside minutes.
He was declared useless on the scene regardless of the efforts of the rescue companies to revive him.
The incident occurred in open terrain above the marked ski runs, the place avalanche limitations forestall snow slides from hitting the pistes.
Salzburg public prosecutors have opened an investigation into the accident.
The mountain rescue chief in central Austria, Gerhard Kremser, has urged individuals to train warning particularly above the tree line.
Sportgastein, Austria. Picture © PlanetSKI
Final weekend six individuals died within the French Alps, one in Austria and one other in Italy.
On Tuesday as ex-Olympic snowboarder, Ueli Kestenholz, died in an avalanche in Switzerland and the younger Czech boy has taken the toll to 10.
There have been quite a few different incidents with the individuals rescued, together with 4 individuals who have been snowboarding on a blue run in St Foy in France when an avalanche swept throughout the piste.
It was set off by an off-piste skier on a slope above who has handed himself in to the ski patrol.
Now we have particulars of all of the incident on this rolling weblog submit that we’ve got been updating all through the week:
All of the deaths and incidents got here regardless of alerts from the climate service of a excessive threat of avalanches and warnings in opposition to off-piste snowboarding.
The hazard stage has now lowered in lots of areas, however there may be nonetheless a Degree 3 threat (appreciable) in lots of areas.
Degree 3, on a scale of 5, is the extent that sees the very best variety of fatalities as individuals consider it to be protected when it’s usually not.
“What needs to be famous after the excessive variety of deaths and people caught in avalanches within the Alps this week is the ‘apparently’ random nature of the incidents,” stated PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.
“Now we have seen a 50 12 months outdated British vacation skier, a ski patroller, an Olympic medalist, a ski tourer, a 13 12 months outdated boy, women and men, plus a seasonal employee caught.
“Nonetheless, avalanches don’t occur randomly – a specific set of scientific circumstances set off them, so the important thing factor for individuals is to know what could set off an avalanche and keep away from these conditions.
“Training and data are key.
“99% of avalanche deaths are avoidable, by following the essential guidelines and security recommendation from the authorities.”
Right here’s the hazard stage in Switzerland for Thursday fifteenth January.
Avalanche hazard in Switzerland, Thursday fifteenth January. Picture c/o Swiss Avalanche Institute, SLF.
The climate in a lot of the Alps has stabilised this week, with only a dusting of recent snow and customarily heat temperatures.
A big snowstorm is ready to hit the southern Alps this weekend which can deliver elevated hazard of avalanche.
PlanetSKI: Number one for digital ski information
Your digital platform for ski information, resort data, journey, gear rental, sport, cash saving offers and all the things related with snowsports – website online, social media & extra.
