A snowboarder is seriously ill in hospital today after nearly “drowing” in fresh snow in the Pyrenean resort of Luz-Ardiden. The 40 year old man became separated from his friends while skiing off piste in the Lisey sector. After searching for their companion in the resort they alerted the rescue services.
The piste patrol returned to the area where the boarder was seen for the last time and after a probe search discovered the man in an advanced state of hypothermia. After medical treatment in resort to stabilize his condition the man was transported to hospital. It seems that the man was not a victim of an avalanche but had simply fallen head first into the snow and was unable to free himself. There has been 70cm of snow over the last few days in the region. Although rare accidents of this type are not unheard especially in forests where skiers and boarders can get trapped in pockets of deep snow surrounding trees.