Avalanche
A ski mountaineer miraculously survived a 400-meter (1,312-foot) fall near the summit of Pizzo Penca in the Swiss Alps, after the snow beneath him suddenly gave way near the peak at 3,037-meter (9,964-foot).
The dramatic accident occurred shortly before noon on Friday, March 28, just 40 meters (131 feet) below the summit. As the skier and four companions ascended the Pizzo Penca, the snowpack collapsed, triggering a small avalanche that swept him down the steep mountainside. Incredibly, he was not buried by the slide but came to a stop far below, injured and stranded. From the pictures it can be deduced that he was swept off a rockface and survived that fall as well and came to a halt just before another sheer drop.
According to the report by Rega, the Swiss Air Rescue service, his companions immediately alerted search and rescue, which dispatched a helicopter crew from its Locarno base. Given the treacherous terrain and high-altitude conditions, the team included a specialist rescuer from Swiss Alpine Rescue.
After a reconnaissance flight to assess the avalanche risk, the helicopter made an intermediate landing to drop off a doctor before lowering a rescuer by winch. Using an evacuation triangle harness, search and rescue swiftly secured the injured mountaineer and airlifted him to safety. He was then transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
Pizzo Penca, located in the Swiss canton Ticino, is a challenging destination for ski mountaineers, known for its steep slopes and unpredictable snow conditions. The skier’s survival given the long slide on a treacherous mountain seems almost miraculous and he surely will be thanking his lucky stars as well as the Swiss Rega for his survival. Rega’s precision during the rescue operation certainly contributed to the happy ending. Rega is a privately funded foundation dedicated to providing air rescue services. The foundation operates a fleet of rescue helicopters and ambulance jets, with 14 helicopter bases located throughout Switzerland to ensure quick response times, especially in remote areas. More than a third of Switzerland’s population are members of Rega and support the organization financially as so-called ‘patrons.’ In 2023, this special rescue service conducted 20,647 rescues across Switzerland
