American Tourist Dies in Off-Piste Accident at Val Thorens, France - SnowBrains

"A ski patroller reached the victim within minutes and immediately began first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A defibrillator was deployed within six minutes of the accident, the SPVB confirmed in a statement. Despite the rapid response, the skier remained in cardiac arrest. A resort doctor and a medical helicopter from Haute-Savoie's Choucas 74 rescue service were dispatched to assist. However, despite extensive resuscitation efforts by emergency teams, the skier was pronounced dead at the scene. It was confirmed that the victim was a U.S. national."

"The exact circumstances of the accident are under investigation. However, Benjamin Blanc, Director of Ski Patrol at Val Thorens, is urging guests to stay on marked slopes wait for the next snowfall before going off-piste. In an interview with AFP, Blanc said, "The snow has been blown a lot. We had almost 15 days of strong wind on Val Thorens, and it really stirred the snow, and therefore the rocks are not covered.""

"An American skier in his early 50s has died following a fall in an off-piste area at Val Thorens, in France's Savoie region, authorities confirmed Tuesday, December 30. The fatal accident occurred mid-afternoon in the Boismint sector of the resort. According to the local ski patrol, Service des Pistes de la Vallée des Belleville (SPVB), which responded to the incident, the skier suffered a serious fall while skiing outside marked runs."

An American skier in his early 50s died after a fall while skiing off marked runs in the Boismint sector of Val Thorens. Local ski patrol Service des Pistes de la Vallée des Belleville (SPVB) responded and a patroller began CPR; a defibrillator was used within six minutes. A resort doctor and a medical helicopter from Haute-Savoie's Choucas 74 rescue service assisted, but the skier was pronounced dead at the scene and identified as a U.S. national. Belleville Valley management expressed condolences and praised rescue teams. Benjamin Blanc urged guests to remain on marked slopes and warned that wind-driven snow has exposed rocks. The incident is under investigation and is the third fatal off-piste fall in Savoie this season.

Read at SnowBrains