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Snow-shoer buried in avalanche above Le Tour

featured in News & reviews Author Ellie Mahoney, Chamonix Editor Updated

A professional show-shoe leader and Chamonix local resident was buried under an avalanche he set off, above Le Tour, for 40 minutes before being rescued alive.

The man was leading a group of show-shoers when he stopped to examine a suspect slope. His suspicions were proved correct as the was swept away. Although the PGHM Mountain Rescue were alerted rapidly by mobile telephone the man was not wearing an avalanche transeiver. He was lucky to be found alive and unhurt.

Survival rates decrease rapidly the longer a search takes. Use of a transeiver is highly encouraged for any activities off the beaten track.