Avalanche accident Ski tourer dies in avalanche in Ovronnaz VS
A 53-year-old Irishman has died in an off-piste area above Ovronnaz VS. The man was caught in an avalanche a week ago. He died on Tuesday night.
20.01.2026, 15:58
SDA
As the Valais cantonal police announced on Tuesday, the avalanche accident occurred a week ago. According to the information, three ski tourers had started their descent from the "Trou de Bougnonne" district on the east side of the Six Noir on January 13. At an altitude of around 2360 meters, an avalanche broke loose shortly before 12.30 p.m. and took one of them with it, as the cantonal police wrote.
The two companions reportedly alerted the rescue services immediately and located the buried person with the help of their avalanche transceivers.
The rescue services alerted by the Valais Rescue Organization (KWRO) deployed two Air-Glaciers helicopters. The victim was rescued from the masses of snow, resuscitated on site and then flown to Sion Hospital.
The man, a 53-year-old Irish citizen, succumbed to his injuries on Monday night. The public prosecutor's office launched an investigation.
Several avalanche deaths since the beginning of the year
Last Thursday, two ski tourers died in an avalanche accident in Chamoson VS. And just over a week ago, Swiss snowboarder and Olympic bronze medal winner Ueli Kestenholz died in an avalanche in the Lötschental in Valais.
