Overwhelmed by an avalanche during an off-piste descent in Valle d'Aosta, a 25-year-old skier died and a girl of the same age is missing. It happened around 1 pm in Val Veny, above Courmayeur. They were part of a group of four freeriders, coming from Sweden, engaged in the Canale degli Spagnoli, at the bottom of the valley: it is a couloir of about 1,000 metres, very steep at times, considered a sort of 'paradise' for lovers of extreme skiing and fresh snow.
The two, both 25 years old, were hit in full by the mass of snow plummeted downstream: one was found immediately, friends tried to revive her but every attempt was in vain and she probably died due to multiple trauma. The other however was dragged downstream for at least 400 meters, was buried by snow and the body has not yet been recovered. The search will resume on Monday morning.
The alarm was triggered as soon as the avalanche descended to the valley: it was given by friends who contacted the central unit.
(Unioneonline/vf)
