A terrifying incident at Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, was witnessed recently when a German skier barely escaped death as he was swept away by an avalanche on January 29. Captured on video by the witnesses, the skier was covered with snow and rolled 300 meters to a 50-meter cliff. He survived thanks to his anti-avalanche airbag inflating, which likely kept him on top of the snow.
The three witnesses, who recorded the incident, were shocked when the skier, who had vanished under the snow, was found conscious and alert after the avalanche stopped. “I thought he was dead. We couldn’t see him at all and with that kind of fall, it seemed impossible he’d make it out alive,” one witness, Morgan Akhourfi, said. “There was a 50-meter cliff below and we just saw him disappear,” he recalled.
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Despite tumbling down the slope, the skier’s emergency airbag, made of tear-proof material, helped him stay afloat on the rushing snow. “It’s possible the airbag played a role in saving his life but honestly it feels like a miracle he survived,” Akhourfi added.
Watch the viral clip:
The skier was airlifted and suffered a broken leg and fractured ribs, but his injuries were not life-threatening. Akhourfi shared a reflective note, “Being unprofessional I would not allow myself to comment on the possible mistakes he or we have made, however, it is interesting to see two things: firstly, even on a ski slope a few seconds before by three people, the risk of an avalanche is not reduced. Second, time using the airbag was in his life-saving case.” He further emphasized, “It is therefore essential to study where you are going, to know the condition of the snowcoat, to ski along and to never underestimate a face under the pretext of knowing it.”
