Tragedy in Sölden: 20-year-old skier dies in the event of an accident with snow cannon

Tragedy in Sölden: 20-year-old skier dies in the event of an accident with snow cannon

On April 7, 2025, a tragic collision occurred in Sölden, which led to the death of a 20-year-old Dutch skier. The incident occurred around 12 p.m. at the Rettenbachferner, a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. The young man lost control of his ski on the black slopes No. 31 and hit the edge of the slopes, bouncing off a snow cannon that was about 6 to 7 meters outside the slopes. Despite the quick help of slopes rescue Sölden and an emergency doctor of the rescue helicopter, only the death of the man could be determined. A witness who was in a gondola had set the emergency call to get help.

The local police and the Kit team of the Red Cross were also in action to examine the incident and to clarify the circumstances of the collision. This tragic incident is reminiscent of a similar accident that occurred on October 29, 2023 in Sölden, in which a 56-year-old employee of the ski area was fatally injured. In this case too, the exact cause of the accident remained unclear and requires further investigations, as tirol orf reported.

increasing number of injuries in skiing

These fatal accidents also skill light on safety in skiing. After an analysis of the Ski Foundation shows that the number of injured skiers in the 2023/2024 season has increased significantly. An estimated 46,000 to 48,000 skiers suffered injuries that corresponds to a decline of 52 percent compared to the basic season 1979/80, but represents a significant increase compared to the pre-season.

The risk of collision accidents rose from 1.50 to 1.73 per 1,000 skiers, while the proportion of collision injuries in all skiing injuries is 21 percent. This development reveals fears regarding security on the ski slopes, especially in view of the stable risk of inpatient treatments at around 1.73 per 1,000 skiers.

It remains to be hoped that such tragic incidents can be reduced in the future by increasing security measures and clarification. The loss of the young skier is an urgent call to all winter athletes to take the dangers on the slopes seriously.