Avalanche
An avalanche safety course in the Swiss Alps became a real-life rescue operation on Saturday, December 7. A massive 100-foot (30-meter) wide slab broke loose on the Oberalp Pass in eastern Switzerland, burying three participants and testing their fellow students’ newly acquired skills.
The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. local time while 40 participants were engaged in various avalanche safety exercises.
Rescuers located and dug out three people buried in the slide within 10 minutes. This swift action proved crucial, as the rescue team extracted the victims before helicopter crews could arrive on the scene.
Rega, the Swiss air rescue service, commended the group’s prompt and efficient action. “Practice became serious,” a Rega spokesperson stated.
As a precautionary measure, Rega airlifted one person to a nearby hospital, but the rescued individuals were all in good condition.
Rega emphasized that rapid rescue remains the most crucial factor for survival in avalanche burials. “Buried victims who are immediately located and dug out by colleagues using an avalanche transceiver have the best chance of survival,” the organization stated, praising the group’s textbook application of their training.
The 6,706′ Oberalp Pass connects the cantons of Uri and Graubünden and is a popular destination for winter sports and avalanche training courses.
