Three British skiers, including one eight-year-old boy, were airlifted to hospital after being involved in separate skiing accidents at the same resort in Austria.
Heavy snowfall at the Tyrolean ski resort of Obergurgl have meant there is plenty of deep snow which can be challenging for skiers. It is thought this may have contributed to the accidents.
On Sunday December 17, one British 19-year-old male collided with a man from Germany – it led to the teenager being rushed to the University Clinic of Innsbruck by helicopter. The other man obtained less serious injuries.
On December 18, an eight-year-old boy collided with a 21-year-old man on a piste, with the child airlifted to the same University Clinic.
The Police State of Tyrol told the Daily Mail: “Around 10.50 am on December 18 2023, an accident occurred on the red piste number seven in the ski resort of Obergurgl.”
The statement added: “The reason has not yet been determined. A 21-year-old male skier from Great Britain collided with an eight-year-old British boy. The child sustained unspecified injuries. He was taken to the University Clinic of Innsbruck with an emergency helicopter.”
The red slope, where the accident on Monday happened, indicates a medium difficulty level. The Obergurgl resort in the Tyrolean district of Imst in western Austria, is known for its high-altitude slopes, glorious mountain peaks, and glaciers.
Also called the ‘Diamond of the Alps’, the resort features several luxury chalets and hotels.
The Austrian Committee for Alpine Security said 111 people had lost their lives in incidents while skiing, snowboarding, and climbing in the Austrian mountains in the 2021/2022 winter sports season.
Overall, 6,716 individuals were involved in accidents in that period.
However, statistics prove popularity of winter tourism is increasing. According to Statistics Austria in January 2023, 15.14 million overnight stays were registered in Austrian accommodation establishments. Compared to the same period the previous year, this was an increase of 4.92 million overnight stays (48 percent).
