A 13-year-old boy dies in an avalanche at Les Arcs

This Wednesday, December 25, a 13-year-old skier lost his life in an avalanche on the Les Arcs ski area in Savoie. According to the Chambéry prefecture, the teenager, who was skiing off-piste in the Aiguille Rouge sector at Arc 2000, was swept away while skiing with six other family members. None of the skiers were supervised by a professional, and the victim was not equipped with an avalanche transceiver (DVA), France Bleu Pays-de-Savoie reported, citing mountain rescue teams.

Rapid intervention but unsuccessful

The tragedy was reported by a ski instructor nearby, who immediately raised the alarm. Two canine teams were deployed to locate the victim using probes. Airlifted and treated by a doctor, the teenager unfortunately could not be revived, and his death was declared at 5:08 p.m.

Dangerous mountain conditions

The avalanche risk was rated 3 out of 5 this Wednesday at Les Arcs, due to numerous unstable snow slabs following a significant snowfall episode. The Albertville prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation, assigned to the High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.

A series of avalanche-related incidents

Since the beginning of the week, several avalanches have caused fatalities in the Alps. On Monday, Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger lost her life in an avalanche in Arosa, Switzerland. On the same day, two teenagers aged 12 and 17 were swept away and injured by an avalanche while skiing off-piste in Val d’Isère with their father.

Reminder of safety rules

Mountain professionals remind us that off-piste skiing requires essential precautions: being accompanied by an experienced guide and carrying mandatory safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe). These measures can make a crucial difference in the event of an accident.