Two people, a Swedish man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, have died in an avalanche in Hemsedal, Norway. Four people from a group of seven were swept away during off-piste skiing just after 11 a.m. on Monday. Both deceased were local residents.
The avalanche alarm sounded just after 11 a.m. on Monday in the Halsane area of Hemsedal. Four skiers from a group of seven engaged in off-piste skiing were carried away by the snow masses. An orange avalanche warning was in effect, indicating significant danger.
A large-scale rescue operation began immediately, involving rescue helicopters and Red Cross volunteers. All victims were located within an hour. Two suffered minor injuries and received care on site, but the Swedish man in his 30s and the woman in her 20s could not be saved despite CPR.
"CPR was initiated, but their lives could not be saved," said Marius Fossvold of Norway's southeastern police district to Sveriges Radio Ekot. Relatives of the Swedish man have been notified, police said.
Both the man and woman resided in the Hemsedal area. "It is incredibly sad that such an event occurs at the end of an otherwise relatively calm Easter," said Jarle Bjørge Øverland, chair of the Red Cross, to NRK. Pål Rørby, chair of Hemsedal municipality, added: "It is a place many visit to ski, and unfortunately accidents happen here every year. But it certainly makes a particularly strong impression when locals from Hemsedal are affected by such a serious accident and perish."
