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Helicopter crash in Breithorn: man survives 7 hours in snow – partner dies
An Italian was killed when a private helicopter crashed into the Breithorn on the border between Valais and Valle d’Aosta. A man who was also aboard the helicopter that had crashed survived the crash.
The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon near the Breithorn, as the rescue organization Air Zermatt announced on Monday. The remains of the machine were found after hours of searching at about 3,000 meters above sea level in Cervinia on Italian territory, according to the Keystone-SDA news agency.
Air Zermatt had been alerted Sunday night and had launched an initial search flight. An army Super Puma helicopter was also called. Due to darkness, wind, and fog, the search parties set out on foot and with a snowmobile.
Survived in the cold for hours
Rescuers arrived at the crash site shortly before midnight Sunday. “In a totally unexpected way” they found an occupant of the helicopter alive, as the message said. The man had survived seven and a half hours in the accident.
He was airlifted to a Bern hospital with severe hypothermia, the Italian news agency Ansa reported. The second person was only able to recover dead. They are both Italians from the Brescia region.
According to the Italian news agency Ansa, the two men flew by helicopter to Valle d’Aosta on Sunday to go skiing in the Cime Bianche area. The accident happened in the late afternoon when they wanted to fly home.
The Italian aviation security authority has opened an investigation. According to Italian media reports, the crashed machine is likely a model from the manufacturer Robinson. (sda)
