On average, five people die on the slopes in Switzerland every year, according to the Accident Prevention Office.
That figure has already been reached this season – five have died in the last week.
Last Friday, a 55-year-old man fell to his death in Graubünden, the next day a 24-year-old crashed into a sign in the same canton. A 17-year-old girl hit a snow groomer in canton Bern and a 59-year-old man died after an accident in Fribourg.
Similarly, the helicopter rescue service Rega has had one of the busiest periods in its history – running a third more operations over the last week than the same time last year – when the weather was worse.
The Accident Prevention Office says the figures simply reflect the large number of people who’ve been taking to the slopes.
The office points out the vast majority of incidents are self-inflicted, either through distraction, over-confidence, poorly maintained equipment, and alcohol.
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