Avalanche kills 71-year-old skier in Austria
A 71-year-old Dutch national has been killed in an avalanche near Fiss in the Tyrolean Alps on Thursday, Austrian police have confirmed.
The man was skiing off-piste with his son and another Dutch friend on Wednesday, triggering a 50-metre wide avalanche that buried all three of them.
His son, 41, managed to free himself and raised the alarm. He also dug out his friend, 35, with the help of an avalanche pager that showed his location.
The man’s father was found an hour later by an avalanche dog, but emergency services were unable to save him.
Austrian police said the area had been hit by some 30 avalanches that day, in which two Germans also died.
Around a million Dutch people go on skiing holidays every year, with Austria one of the most popular destinations.
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