Industry News
A tragic ski accident occurred on Friday evening, December 13, when a 42-year-old man came off the piste in the dark while skiing back from an on-mountain après venue at Gerlos, Austria. Just before 6 p.m., the German citizen was skiing down the Iiskogel Run when he came off the groomed run and flew into an adjacent field where he crashed hard into a frozen snow globe and was seriously injured during the impact. According to the police report, the German skier was seriously injured and was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Innsbruck. Eye witnesses to the accident reported: “It all went so fast. We only heard that someone fell and immediately called for help. The mountain rescue was on the spot very quickly.”
Eyewitnesses to the accident alerted first aid immediately, and Gerlos Mountain Rescue was quickly at the scene. While the mountain rescue team took over first aid of the injured man, they also notified an emergency medical helicopter due to the man’s serious injuries and the remote location. The exact extent of the man’s injuries were not shared by police. According to the Austrian radio, the man was at an après-ski venue earlier and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. It appears the man lost control and fell about 3 meters onto a meadow with minimal snow cover where he hit a frozen snow pile.
Gerlos is a popular ski destination which is part of the Zillertal Arena. It is well known for its legendary après offering on and off the mountain. There are several bars, including Seppi’s and Rössl Alm, situated right on the Iiskogel Run, and many skiers and boarders will make their journey down after lifts have closed in an intoxicated state. Lifts at the Zillertal Arena close at 4 p.m. While the establishments on-mountain close at 5:00 p.m., it typically will take a while for guests to wind down and make the last vertical feet down the dark slope. The Iiskogel Run goes from the Iiskogel at 2,254 meters (7,395 feet) all the way to the Gerlos valley at 1,300 meters (4,265 feet).
The accident serves as an important reminder to exercise caution when mixing alcohol and skiing or snowboarding.
If you have any information about the accident, you can contact the Zell am Ziller police office at: +43-(0)59133/7257
