The tourist traveled by bus from Innsbruck to the Kühtai ski area on Saturday morning with her partner (26) and his friend (32). According to the Tyrolean police, they wanted to climb to the Gaiskogel, a mountain of no less than 2,820 meters high. The trio of friends managed to reach the top, but the hard snow made the alpine descent difficult. The avalanche warning level was moderate at that time.
When the wind blew one of the German woman’s skis into the steep eastern flank, her partner decided to pick it up. But it was then caught in an avalanche and was dragged 20 to 30 meters. He was able to save himself in the end.
The couple’s friend went after them to help when he saw the 28-year-old woman caught in another avalanche. Despite immediate rescue measures after the accident, the young woman died on the spot. Her partner and his friend were left unharmed and were later taken away by an emergency helicopter.
It is not the first time that skiers have gotten into trouble. A 54-year-old ski tourer from Austria found himself in a similar situation when he too was caught in an avalanche in the region. He died after being dragged about 400 meters through rocky terrain and buried under snow.