Two very experienced piste patrollers had a narrow escape in the ski resort of Peyragudes on Tuesday (29/01/2019) when they were caught by an avalanche. The incident occurred just before 9h00 as the men were securing the ski runs before opening. The patrollers were on the last control point of the PIDA (avalanche control plan) near the col de la Flamme. They were caught by a slide that they themselves had triggered. One of the victims contacted the Mountain Rescue at St Lary. They recovered the men battered and bruised but suffering no serious injuries. One of the pisteurs, Francis Bassat said that avalanche was "like being crushed by a steamroller, I'm aching all over but everything is okay".

Piste patrollers have paid a heavy price this season. On the 14th January a piste worker was killed by an avalanche at Champoussin on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil and on the 13th January two patrollers were killed when an explosive charge went off when they were handling it at Morillon during avalanche control work.