Avalanche
Two Italian skiers died Thursday afternoon, March 20, after an avalanche struck a heli-skiing group in the Abisko mountains, near the Norwegian border. The victims, identified as brothers Mattia Böer, 50, and Daniele Böer, 45, were buried under the snow, while a third brother, Simone Böer, survived by deploying his airbag. The Böer brothers were lifelong mountain enthusiasts, sharing a passion for extreme sports that had taken them across the globe. They were accompanied by their partners Bruna and Poline. Bruna was swept into trees and was not buried while Poline was waiting in the helicopter.
“The first sunny days after snowstorms and periods of snow drifts are usually critical. The snow cover stabilizes slower as the weather improves. It’s a dangerous combination. We have seen some really large avalanches in recent days and know that the consequences can be very serious. First and foremost, our thoughts go to all those affected in yesterday’s tragic avalanche accident in Kårsavagge where two skiers lost their lives.”
— Lavinprognoser
The avalanche occurred around 4 p.m. in Kårsavagge, a remote area known for its challenging terrain. The Böer brothers, along with a guide and two companions, had taken a helicopter to the top of the area after several days of poor weather. The helicopter dropped the group at the top and flew to the bottom of the slope, when the avalanche struck, sweeping away the three Italian brothers and the guide. Simone managed to activate his avalanche airbag and stay on the surface, but Mattia and Daniele were buried. A guide was also caught but remained on top of the snow. The helicopter at the bottom of the slope was also partially buried.
Rescue teams responded quickly, and the buried skiers were located using avalanche transceivers. Despite efforts to revive them, Mattia and Daniele were pronounced dead at the scene. The guide sustained injuries and was flown to a hospital in Tromsø, Norway.
Swedish authorities have opened an investigation into potential negligence in the operation of the heli-skiing tour. According to local media, the police are examining whether safety protocols were followed and if liability falls on individuals or the company involved.
The region has been experiencing high avalanche risk, with warnings issued across the northern Scandinavian mountain range. Similar avalanches have occurred in Norway and Finland in recent days, highlighting the unstable conditions.
- Related: Man Buried Under 5 Foot Avalanche Contacts Police and Survives 7 Hours before Successful Rescue
The Böer brothers were experienced mountaineers with a history of ski trips to remote locations, including previous encounters with avalanches. They had arrived in Sweden on Sunday, March 16, for a planned week of heli-skiing. They were scheduled to return to Italy on March 23.
Local officials in Luserna San Giovanni, the brothers’ hometown in northern Italy, expressed condolences, as did the mountain sports community. Swedish authorities continue to assess the circumstances of the accident as part of their ongoing investigation.
