Hofer was in a group of eleven ski tourers, they came from the Pongau, the Ennstal and Upper Austria. The avalanche is likely to have dissolved around 1.45 p.m. at around 2,400 meters above sea level just below the summit. When the group climbed up, a large slab of snow 200 meters wide and 500 meters long came off. In some cases, the snow masses were up to 4.5 meters deep, said the Lungau’s disaster control officer, Christoph Wiedl, to ORF Salzburg.
Two people, including Hofer, could only be rescued dead, another buried tourer was first reanimated and flown to the Klagenfurt hospital by helicopter, where he died in the evening. Two other injured people who were not buried were brought to the Tamsweg hospital with the ambulance.
Five helicopters, mountain rescue and the Red Cross were in action. The Tweng community building has been converted into an operations center. A crisis intervention team looked after the uninjured tourers from the group.
Video: Interview with Christoph Wiedl
The Alberndorfer Hofer was seen as the most promising motocross talent in the country. He only picked up in October KTM rider in Pietramurata, Italy, becomes the first Austrian since Heinz Kinigadner more than 30 years ago a Grand Prix victory in one of the two main classes of the Motocross World Championship.
Source: Nachrichten
