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Three ski tourers died on the approach from Vent to the Martin Busch Hut in Niedertal on April 11, 2024. A total of ten people were caught in an avalanche. This accident involving a group of 18 people from the Netherlands, who were traveling with four mountain guides, was the most serious in the period under review and caused a lot of discussion, and not just because of its media coverage. Here is the final report from the Alpine Police.
Christoph Silberberger
Mountain guide (police & IVBV), head of the Alpine Operations Group (AEG) Kufstein
Facts of the case
Four state-certified mountain and ski guides set off together with 18 Dutch ski tourers on a planned four-day tour from Vent (1,900 m) through the Niedertal valley towards Martin Busch Hütte (2,501 m) at around 8.30 a.m. on 11 April 2024. After just a few minutes, one participant had to turn back due to physical complaints.
With the now 17 participants, the four mountain guides followed an existing ascent track to the so-called “Liechtl”, where they took their first planned break. Before and after the break, the ski tour was led by two mountain guides, then the participants followed and the group was completed by the two other mountain guides. The participants were not assigned to a specific mountain guide.
A few minutes after the approx. ten-minute break, at 10.50 am, the ski tourers were surprised by a spontaneous wet snow avalanche, with ten participants being caught in the avalanche. The seven in the front of the group (2 mountain guides and 5 customers) and the four at the back (2 mountain guides and 2 customers) were not caught or were able to escape the avalanche. Five customers were each swept along several meters and came to rest on the surface or were partially buried and were not injured. One customer who was partially buried up to his chest and another who was not visibly completely buried by about 160 centimeters were rescued after about 20 minutes with minor injuries. Three customers who were not visibly completely buried could only be rescued dead.
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Becoming known
On April 11, 2024 at 10:53 a.m., the Alpine Police and the BMI helicopter (Libelle Tirol) were informed by the Tyrol control center about an avalanche with ten people buried in Vent, Niedertal. The alpine police officer on duty then immediately went to Vent to assist with the first general assistance and the investigation. The emergency helicopters Martin 2, Christophorus 5, Robin 3, Gallus 3 and the mountain rescue stations in Sölden, Längenfeld, Obergurgl, Umhausen and several avalanche dog handlers were also alerted. In addition, further alpine police officers and patrol officers from the Sölden police station were called in to support the emergency services.
Overview photo of the accident area: The situation in Niedertal less than an hour after the avalanche. The accident avalanche is outlined in black. It was not possible to reconstruct exactly when the numerous other visible fresh avalanches started, most of them were registered after the accident avalanche.
Photo: Alpine Police (day of accident, 11.41 am)
