Two off-piste skiers, probably French, lost their lives on Sunday in an avalanche near Courmayeur, Italy. A third group member is in grave condition at Turin hospital. Rescuers mobilized fifteen people, dogs, and two helicopters for the rescue operations.
The Italian Alpine Rescue Service (CNSAS) reported the incident that occurred on Sunday in the Italian Alps. The victims, a woman and two men, were engaged in off-piste skiing in the Canale dei Vesses, a steep area popular to the west of Courmayeur, in the Val Veny region at the foot of Mont Blanc.
According to the CNSAS, one skier died at the avalanche site, while the second succumbed to injuries at the emergency services. The third, also seriously injured, is receiving treatment at Turin hospital. Rescuers stated that the victims were "probably" French, without providing further details on their identities.
Fifteen CNSAS members took part in the search, assisted by rescue dogs and two helicopters. This area, known for its technical passages, attracts freeride skiing enthusiasts but remains subject to avalanche risks despite precautions.
The event highlights the ongoing dangers of off-piste skiing in the Alpine massifs, where snow conditions can change rapidly.
