This weekend, two Swedish women aged 25 died in an avalanche in Italy. This means that five Swedes have died in avalanche accidents in the Alps this winter – which is more than in many years, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Hugo Mörtsell from Östersund lost his brother Joel last weekend, when he and another Swedish man were dragged into an avalanche in Switzerland. – He was my biggest rival and at the same time biggest idol, main inspiration and best friend, he says. On Saturday, March 11 this year, 27-year-old Joel Mörtsell was in Verbier, Switzerland, doing one of the things he loved most – skiing, preferably off-piste. But in the middle of one of the runs, there was an avalanche that Joel and another Swedish man were pulled into. Both died in the accident. – I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t get it into my head. I stood staring at the horizon for five minutes and was completely emotional, says brother Hugo. “Know which signals to turn at” At the time of the accident, there was an avalanche danger in the area around Verbier. According to Hugo Mörtsell, Joel was a very experienced skier who always considered the risks and had safety equipment with him. – I want to strike a blow so that you take it carefully in the mountains and be well prepared and have an ability to read the mountain, to know which signals to turn around on, says Hugo. In just a few days at the beginning of February, a total of eleven people died in the Alps. Worst hit were the mountains in Austria, where eight people lost their lives. A total of five Swedes have died in avalanche accidents in the Alps this winter, which is more than in many years. In addition, a Swedish man died during a military exercise at Kebnekaise in the Swedish mountains earlier this winter. – We haven’t had so many deaths since 2013. Swedish skiers like to go off-piste and often go to the Alps where the mountains are significantly bigger and the snow is even more attractive than the Swedish mountains, says Per-Olov Wikberg, avalanche expert at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Last picture of the brothers In one of the last pictures Hugo has with his brother, they are in Portugal surfing. The photo is from December – and the plan was for Joel to come home to Jämtland and the family at the end of April. – I want to spread his way of life. There are many lessons – and I learned a lot from my little brother, says Hugo. In the player above: See the feature with Hugo.
t4-general
Hugo lost his brother in an avalanche: My biggest idol and best friend
