Three backcountry skiers, part of a group of seven, were hit by a large avalanche on Sunday in the Aragnouet sector of Aure valley close to the ski resort of Piau-Engaly. The skiers were caught by the slide on north facing slopes at 2,400 meters below the Pic de Cuneille. The avalanche risk was 3 [considerable] at the time.
The alert was given by phone at around midday and an important rescue operation was put in place involving mountain police, a dog handler and doctor. Two skiers escaped unhurt from the slide but a third, Marianne Fabaron, aged 24 years and a resident of Toulouse was found in a state of severe hypothermia. The group were equipped with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels. Airlifted by helicopter to hospital at Tarbes in a serious condition she succumbed to her injuries today.
As reported by PisteHors.com there has been considerable fresh snow in the area. Two skiers were caught by a slide on the Envers du Piau off-piste on Thursday and another two men, residents of Lyon were killed in the Aran Valley just over the border in Spain last Monday.