Industry News
A 29-year-old Irish man died in an accident at the Bansko mountain ski resort in southern Bulgaria. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the man, part of a group taking scenic photographs, lost his balance and plummeted approximately 1,900 feet (600 meters) down the mountainside.
Mountain rescue teams quickly responded to the emergency, locating the severely injured tourist and transporting him to a hospital in nearby Razlog. The man succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
Dr. Valentin Belchev, who treated the patient, stated, “Life-saving measures were taken, and a full assessment of his injuries was carried out. But despite all efforts of our medical team, he eventually succumbed to his grave injuries”.
The rescue operation faced challenges when a dispatched helicopter aborted its mission due to technical issues. As a result, ground teams had to transport the injured tourist using a stretcher and snowmobile before transferring him to an ambulance.
Bansko, in the Pirin Mountains, is Bulgaria’s top ski destination. It boasts 14 lifts and approximately 46 miles (75 kilometers) of pistes. The resort town is popular with local and international skiers and riders. The resort will host two FIS World Cup alpine skiing events on February 10-11. The giant slalom and slalom races will take place on the challenging Tomba course, marking Bansko’s ninth time hosting World Cup competitions.
The Mountain Rescue Service has warned about icy mountain conditions, urging tourists to exercise caution and avoid steep routes.
