Slovak Skiers Buried by Avalanche in Switzerland on Saturday, One Dead

Graubunden/Bratislava, 2 February (TASR) - A group of four Slovak skiers was buried by an avalanche at the Swiss resort of Piz Alv in Ponterisme, located in Graubunden canton, on Saturday (31 January) afternoon, TASR learnt from the GRHeute and 20min.ch websites on Monday. One skier couldn't be rescued, and another member of the group suffered injuries. According to a statement by the Graubunden canton police, the Rega (Swiss air rescue service) headquarters received a report of the accident shortly after 5.30 p.m. on Saturday directly from one of the members of a four-member group of skiers. The injured man, who had managed to free himself from under the snow, was transported to hospital. Another 53-year-old man who was buried by the avalanche was found dead by the rescuers. Dog-handlers from the Alpine Rescue Service and two Rega helicopters were involved in the rescue operation. The exact circumstances of the tragedy are being investigated by the Graubunden canton police and the public prosecutor's office. The Slovak Foreign Ministry has confirmed for TASR that one Slovak national was killed in the incident in the Val da Fain valley. am/df