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Tragedy in Sölden: 20-year-old skier dies in accident with snow cannon
Tragedy struck in Sölden on April 7, 2025, when a 20-year-old skier fatally collided with a snow cannon.
Tragedy in Sölden: 20-year-old skier dies in accident with snow cannon
On April 7, 2025, a tragic collision occurred in Sölden, resulting in the death of a 20-year-old Dutch skier. The incident happened around 12 p.m. on the Rettenbachferner, a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. The young man lost control of his skis on the black piste number 31 and went over the edge of the piste, hitting a snow cannon about 6 to 7 meters outside the piste. Despite the quick help from the Sölden piste rescue service and an emergency doctor from the rescue helicopter, only the man's death could be determined. A witness who was in a gondola made an emergency call to get help.
Local police and the Red Cross KIT team were also deployed to investigate the incident and clarify the circumstances of the collision. This tragic incident is reminiscent of a similar accident that occurred in Sölden on October 29, 2023, in which a 56-year-old ski resort employee was fatally injured. In this case too, the exact cause of the accident remained unclear and requires further investigation Tyrol ORF reported.
Increasing number of injuries in skiing
These fatal accidents highlight safety in skiing. After an analysis of the Ski Foundation shows that the number of injured skiers increased significantly in the 2023/2024 season. An estimated 46,000 to 48,000 skiers suffered injuries, a 52 percent decrease compared to the 1979-80 base season, but still a significant increase compared to the previous season.
The risk of collision accidents has increased from 1.50 to 1.73 per 1,000 skiers, while the proportion of collision injuries out of all skiing injuries is 21 percent. This development raises concerns about safety on the ski slopes, especially given the stable risk of inpatient treatment 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 education. The loss of the young skier is an urgent call to all winter sports enthusiasts to take the dangers on the slopes seriously.