A skier has suffered serious head injuries following an avalanche at Ax-3-Domaines in the Pyrenees. Shortly after 13h00 three local skiers, said to be experienced, triggered an avalanche in "aile d'avion" sector of the Campels ski area above the Campeillots piste. Two of the skiers were taken 200 meters by a slab measuring around 60x70 meters.
The piste patrol, dog handler and the PGHM (mountain rescue police) were dispatched to the scene. One of the skiers was found under 100cm of snow thanks to his avalanche transceiver. Suffering from a head injury and concussion as well as other minor injuries he was rushed to hospital by helicopter.
The avalanche risk was 4/5 in the ski resort. A Spanish skier was also caught by an avalanche in the late morning but escaped without injury. The piste director warned of both windslab and purges with weaknesses particulary in area with shrubs and small trees. The nearby RN320 which links Ax with Andorra was cut Friday morning at 06h00 by large avalanche above Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre.
A French resident in Andorra has been killed and his Spanish wife seriously injured by an avalanche on the pic de la Serrera (2.913 metres) in the principality while ski touring. The rescue services said they probably triggered the slab as they crossed over the slope. The rescue services were alerted around 14h00. Four dog handlers were flown to the scene, the rescue was complicated as the victims didn't have avalanche transceivers. The woman was found at 14h30, she suffered pelvic injuries. Her husband was found at 15h10, he had probably been killed by head injuries.