After the death of a teenager in Les Arcs (Savoie), killed in an avalanche, the investigation begins to shed light on the origin of the tragedy.
A drama on Christmas Day. A teenager, aged 14, died on Wednesday December 25, 2024 while skiing in an off-piste area in Les Arcs, in Savoie. The young man was swept away by an avalanche while he was sliding down the snow with a group of seven skiers, as mountain rescue announced, confirming information from France Blue Savoie.
At 3:22 p.m., an avalanche surprised the group, unsupervised, operating in this off-piste area. The alert was given by a ski instructor accompanying clients near the place where the slide was triggered, who was a direct witness to the incident.
A marked avalanche risk at the time of the tragedy
Two dog teams and rescue trackers quickly intervened on site. At 3:43 p.m., less than 20 minutes after their arrival, they were able to locate the victim using a probe, notably spotting a pair of skis emerging from the snow. Unfortunately, the young skier was not equipped with an avalanche victim detector (AVD), crucial equipment in this type of situation.
A helicopter rescue doctor treated the teenager, but despite intensive resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead at 5:08 p.m. According to initial information, the flow was triggered by a surfer moving upstream. The seven members of the group, all French, belonged to the same family, staying in Arc 1800 for the Christmas holidays.
Mountain professionals point out that the avalanche risk remained high on Wednesday, with an index of 3 out of 5 on most mountain ranges. “The snow cover has not yet stabilized, despite the cold temperatures. We still have to wait before venturing off-piste,” they emphasize. They emphasize the importance of being accompanied by a guide and being equipped with the appropriate equipment, including an avalanche victim detector, a shovel and a probe, to minimize risks.