Snowboarders sentenced for manslaughter following avalanche

2 snowboarders have been sentenced to 2 and 4 months in prison by the Annecy Criminal Court for manslaughter following an avalanche in 2003 that lead to the death of a teenager.

The two snowboarders had decided to climb on foot along a ridge at 2540 meters altitude in the Col de Bellachat sector when they triggered a slab avalanche. The slide, measuring some 50 by 500 meters hit a teenage girl skiing as part of a group of youngsters on an off-piste session with a guide. All were equiped with avalanche beacons and helmets. The avalanche, which occured at 13h30, also crossed the Crintiaux piste but no skiers on the slope were hurt by the slide. The girl was found after ten minutes under the snow thanks to her avalanche transceiver but in a state of cardiac-arrest and hypothermia.


Sobering news as the season is upon us. I was shocked to hear that hypothermia could set in so soon. Think I should see if I can get myself onto the avalanche awareness course at Snow and Rock next week.

Full story at Pistehors.

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 20th, 2006 at 4:33 pm and is filed under Snowboarding, Avalanche. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Your comments will appear immediately, but I reserve the right to delete innapropriate comments.

One Comment on “Snowboarders sentenced for manslaughter following avalanche”

  1. Zaskoda Says:
    November 21st, 2006 at 4:10 am

    I have a lot of mixed feelings about that. It’s sad, truly sad. I hate to hear the story at all. I don’t know if sending these kids to jail will really make anything better. I understand that you have to send a strong signal that lives are at risk here - including the lives of others… but what a horrible thing all the way around.

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