The tourist, who was part of a group taking pictures of the surrounding scenery, lost his balance and fell from a height of about 600m at the Bansko resort in southern Bulgaria
A 29-year-old man from Ireland has died after falling at a mountain ski resort in southern Bulgaria.
The tourist was seriously injured after falling on Tuesday from a height of about 600m (1,900 feet) at the Bansko resort. He was found by a mountain rescue service team and taken to a hospital in the nearby town of Razlog in a serious condition with multiple injuries, emergency services said.
According to initial information, the victim was part of a group taking pictures of the surrounding scenery when he lost his balance and fell. Once at the hospital, “life-saving measures were taken, and a full assessment of his injuries was carried out,” Dr Valentin Belchev said.
However, he added that “despite all efforts of our medical team, he eventually succumbed to his grave injuries.” Bansko is the leading ski resort in Bulgaria, with a total of 75km of slopes and 14 lifts available. It is common among beginners all the way to experts. The resort is also known for its beautiful panoramic views over the Pirin Mountains and Pirin National Park.
On Tuesday afternoon, a skier tragically passed away in a “very large” avalanche in the French Alps. The 55-year-old man died after being swept away by an avalanche in an off-piste sector in the Chamonix valley, at the foot of Mont Blanc. The tragedy unfolded at Grand Montets, Argentiere. Initial reports suggested he was British, but police later identified him as a dual national – Portuguese and Brazilian – who had worked in the UK.
The victim was discovered at 4.35pm by members of the ski patrol. As they were preparing to close the slopes for the day, they noticed an avalanche stretching two-thirds of a mile down the slope. While inspecting the area, they discovered the victim’s elbow, which had not been completely buried.
Medics were flown on to the mountain by helicopter but, tragically, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Rescuers scoured the area for two hours in search of other possible victims.
The prefecture of the Haute-Savoie said in a statement: “A very large avalanche occurred in the Grands Montets ski area, in the Herse sector. Due to very unfavourable weather conditions and the significant risk of a second avalanche, the rescue operation was halted late in the evening. The checks carried out confirm a provisional assessment of one victim.”
The mountain police said: “The victim was a 55-year-old man of English origin. The reasons for the triggering of this kilometre-long and 400-metre-wide flow are currently unknown and an investigation is underway.”