Avalanche Claims Life of Freeride World Tour Mountain Guide in Andorra

Competitive big mountain skiing carries with it a pretty heavy amount of inherent risk. And unfortunately, tragedy unfolded Thursday morning at the Vallnord-Arcalís stop on the Freeride World Tour (FWT) when one of the mountain guides in charge of competitor safety died in an avalanche at the Andorran resort, according to TGR.

In a short Facebook post announcing the passing of the mountain guide, the FWT expressed its grief over the tragedy.

“A mountain guide was caught today in an avalanche while working to secure the competition venue for the Freeride World Tour (FWT) taking place at Vallnord-Arcalís, Andorra,” The FWT wrote on Facebook. “Despite the rapid response of the rescuers from Vallnord-Arcalís and the mountain rescue group (GRM) of Andorra, the injuries sustained by the victim were fatal. He was declared deceased at the Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital.”

The passing of the unnamed mountain guide is an unfortunate reminder of the danger present in the mountains, particularly during times of heavy snowfall.