Avalanche
A 40-year-old Irishman named Shay Casey was killed by an avalanche on Italy’s Monte Rosa last Thursday, July 31st, 2014. He was climbing with 11 other climbers when the avalanche struck in the afternoon heat. The deceased man suffered major head and neck injures. He was swept 50 meters downhill by the avalanche.
The avalanche occurred while they were climbing the Italian side of 15,203-foot Monte Rosa.
The family issued this statement last Friday about their loss:
“It is with deep sadness that the Casey family confirms the tragic death of their youngest brother, Shay Casey.”
“An avid and experienced outdoor sportsman, he was climbing with friends in Aosta, Northern Italy when an avalanche occurred.”
“Tragically Shay suffered serious injuries and was killed by the force of the snowslide. His body has been recovered, and the family is being assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs.” – the Casey family
Shay was the fourth Irish mountaineer to die climbing last week. Two Irish climbers died on July 27th, 2014 while climbing 13,166-foot Dent du Geant on Mont Blanc in the French Alps.
On July 26th, an Irishman perished in a climbing accident in the Twelve Bens range in Galway, Ireland.
Thursday’s fatality was the 5th avalanche death in the Alps that has occurred this summer.
