Again, a child fell from the cable car, the case had a tragic end. And avalanches are a risk – here and abroad.
Zachrániť sa ho nepodarilo. A z lanovky vypadol chlapček aj u nás
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Ďalšie dieťa spadlo z lanovky. Okrem nešťastných prípadov z posledných dní u nás na Slovensku, prišla správa s tragickým koncom aj zo zahraničia, čo svedčí o tom, že naozaj treba byť viac ako opatrným na lyžovačkách. Smutný prípad sa odohral v obľúbenom lyžiarskom stredisku Cypress Mountain, ktoré sa nachádza v pohorí North Shore Mountains v západnom Vancouveri v Kanade. Išlo o 18-ročného tínedžera z Britskej Kolumbie v Kanade. Nešťastie sa stalo len štyri dni dozadu.
- Po páde z lanovky zahynul tínedžer.
- Podobný prípad sa stal aj na Slovensku, chlapec prežil.
- V rakúskych Alpách lavíny zabíjali deti aj dospelých.
- Na Slovensku platí mierne lavínové nebezpečenstvo v horách.
- Pripomíname: Deti do 18 rokov musia na svahu nosiť prilbu.
According to local police, emergency services were called to the ski resort at around 7:27 p.m. local time in response to a report of a person in a medical emergency after falling from a cable car. However, the teenager was finally pronounced dead at the scene, reports People magazine.
“All available evidence points to this being a tragic accident,” police spokeswoman Suzanne Birch said in a statement. “There are no obvious signs of technical or mechanical problems with the cable car.” The police and the ski resort itself have already expressed their sincere condolences to the family.
We are also reporting on the case considering that a similar one took place only recently in our country.
“According to the information found so far, the boy should have fallen from the cable car after he slipped under the safety barrier. The boy was then taken by helicopter to the Banská Bystrica hospital, where he was treated and discharged to home treatment. The incident was not found to be someone else’s fault or a technical malfunction of the resort’s mountain transport equipment,” the Police of the Slovak Republic also informed on social networks.
The accident happened at the ski resort in the village of Krahule on Monday, January 5, and it involved only an 11-year-old boy who fell from a four-seater cable car from a height of approximately five meters and injured his head, torso and upper limb. We covered the case in more detail in the article here:
In recent days, ski resorts have also reported accidents in connection with underestimating the avalanche danger on the slopes. In the Austrian Alps, for example, a 12-year-old Czech boy recently died after being buried by an avalanche in the Sportgastein resort.
Despite the rapid intervention of rescuers, the boy could not be saved. At the same time, the boy was riding off the piste together with other companions, the helicopter and the mountain service were also involved in the rescue operation. Despite the subsequent 45-minute resuscitation, he lost his life. More information in the report here:
However, this is not the only tragic case of recent days. The idnes.cz portal also reported on three other citizens of Czech nationality, two men and one woman, who died in an avalanche in the Austrian Alps over the weekend. The rescue operation was complicated by bad weather. The death was also confirmed by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Four Czech ski alpinists survived, the case is being investigated by the police.
“Unfortunately, we can confirm that our embassy in Vienna was informed by the Austrian police on Saturday night that three Czech ski alpinists died in an avalanche in the Styrian Pusterwald,” said Daniel Drake, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to reports, the ski alpinists were supposed to be well equipped for the event, they also had avalanche probes. This weekend was the most tragic so far in the ski season of the Austrian Alps. A total of 8 people died in three avalanches here. Avalanche danger remains here for several days at warning levels 2 to 3 out of five.
Avalanche danger here too
The Avalanche Prevention Center (SLP) of the Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) also informed about the moderate avalanche danger in our conditions. In the highest locations in the High, Western, and western parts of the Low Tatras, there is a moderate avalanche danger, the second degree from the five-part international scale. In the Fatras and the eastern part of the Low Tatras, there is only a small avalanche danger. In the morning, the surface of the snow cover will be hard, especially in the middle positions and positions exposed to sunlight the previous day.
On the leeward sides of the mountain ranges, in the highest positions, snow pillows and slabs are locally created by the wind, the stability of which can be low, especially on steep to very steep shaded slopes. Locally, it is possible to release an avalanche here, primarily by a large additional load.
“In central locations, the snow has settled and stabilized due to temperature changes. During the day, it will gradually become heavier on the slopes facing the south and the sun, which will reduce its stability. During the day, small spontaneous avalanches may occasionally occur here, mainly from wet snow,” the center said.
The snow from the last snowfall period was blown by strong winds into the valleys, the windward sides are often blown down to the ground. “In the highest locations, it has retained its powdery character, in the middle, a crust or a layer of firn has formed on the surface. During the day, due to warming, the snow on the southern slopes will become wet and melt,” SLP added. The total height of the snow cover is still below average.
We remind you: Helmets must be worn by children under 18 years of age
In connection with the holidays that many families and adults spend in the mountains in ski resorts, the SR Police also reminds of the amendment to the law on the Mountain Rescue Service, which came into effect on January 1.
“The age limit for the mandatory wearing of a ski helmet is being increased from the current 15 to 18. The goal is to protect the health of young skiers,” explained the Ministry of the Interior, which brought about the adjustment and which the police are now appealing to.
We also remind you to be considerate and follow the rules when skiing
The Police of the Slovak Republic on their social networks also reminds us of the rules that we should follow when staying on the slopes on skis. This is the White Code, which is supposed to protect us and at the same time requires us to protect our surroundings and others with our responsible and considerate behavior.
However, ski resorts also appeal for compliance with these principles – according to them, just by buying a ski pass, you commit to complying with the White Code.
However, every skier should know the basic principles of the White Code by heart and follow them:
1) Respect for each other
Every visitor must behave in the center area, especially on the track, in such a way as not to endanger another visitor or cause him harm.
2) Adequate speed
Every skier must have an overview of the slopes in front of them. They must adapt their speed to their abilities and capabilities, terrain, weather, snow conditions, as well as the density of skiers on the track.
When reaching the boarding stations along the downhill track, it is the duty of every skier to reduce their speed at least 50 meters before the finish line so as not to endanger their safety and the safety of other people.
3) Choice of driving direction and responsibility
A skier coming from behind must choose his direction of travel in such a way as not to endanger the skier in front of him. Priority is always given to the skier in front. A skier riding behind another skier must keep a sufficient distance to leave the skier in front free space for the direction and method of riding.
4) Driving direction
It is only allowed to move down the mountain on the marked pistes. It is strictly forbidden to move in the opposite direction on the marked slopes! (does not apply to service and staff of the ski resort).
5) Prevention
Overtaking is allowed from the left and right, but in such a way that the overtaken skier has enough space to change the direction and also the way of driving.
6) Entering the track and starting after stopping
Everyone who enters or crosses the downhill track is obliged to make sure that no other skier is approaching from above, in order not to endanger himself or others and to prevent a possible collision.
7) Stopping
A visitor may stop and stand only in places where they are clearly visible and where they do not prevent others from using the track properly. You can stop and stand only on the edge of the downhill track. A skier must not stand on narrow and unclear parts of the ski track for no reason. After falling, he must leave such a place as quickly as possible.
8) Pedestrian movement
You can only move on foot off the slopes.
9) Respect for signage
Everyone must respect all the markings placed on the downhill tracks.
10) Case of accident
In the event of an accident on or off the ski track, every skier is obliged to provide assistance and notify an authorized person (Mountain Rescue Service, or cableway or lift workers). Each participant in the accident is obliged to submit to a breath test for alcohol, performed by an authorized employee of the ski resort.
11) Proof of identity
Each participant and also the witness of the accident is obliged to provide basic personal data to the mountain service or center staff.
12) Security
Persons under the age of 16 are obliged to protect their heads on the ski slopes with a properly fastened protective helmet. The person who organizes the activity on the ski slope imposes the obligation to ensure that persons under the age of 15 are wearing reflective safety clothing or visibly placed reflective safety elements.
Marked downhill tracks are groomed except for the “freeride” zones. Each visitor uses the tracks at their own risk and must consider their abilities before use in relation to the condition of the tracks, the weather and their capacity.
13) Ski pass
Every visitor is obliged to use the transport equipment only with a valid ski pass and before boarding the transport equipment, he is obliged to show proof of it at the request of a worker of the center or another person entrusted with the performance of the inspection. A ski pass whose validity period has not expired and for which the visitor meets all the required conditions is considered valid.
All ski passes are non-transferable. They are monitored by the Skidata system and may only be used by one person. In case of use by another person, they will be blocked as well as ski passes purchased outside the center’s cash desks.
By purchasing a ski pass, using the transport equipment or entering the resort area, every visitor undertakes to comply with these rules. In case of violation of these rules, their ski pass can be taken away and they will be expelled from the resort.
Among others, male and female skiers are also required to comply with other rules, such as:
- spomaľte na plných zjazdovkách
- spomaľte v zlom počasí
- spomaľte v neprehľadných zákrutách a pred zlomom zjazdovky
- predbiehajte s veľkým bočným odstupom, aj keď nenarazíte, môžete vystrašiť
- nelyžujte nad limit vybavenia a schopností
- spomaľte pri úraze na svahu, používaní techniky, vzniku prekážky
It is no less important to behave responsibly, regardless of whether you are a skier or not, and if you have a child, it is also important to avoid unnecessary risks.
