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British skier injured in on-piste collision

Two skiers involved in serious accident

featured in News & reviews Author Ellie Mahoney, Les 2 Alpes Editor Updated

On Sunday afternoon two skiers were involved in a serious collision on piste in 2 Alpes, which left one man dead and one seriously injured.

This accident saw a 52 year old Italian skier crash into a 33 year old British man, who were both skiing on a blue piste at the time.

The impact was so strong that the Italian man unfortunately suffered a heart attack and died on scene. The British man suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital in Grenoble for treatment.

Accidents like this are especially rare, but it seems appropriate to recap on the 10 rules of ski safety;

10 FIS rules for the conduct of skiers and snowboarders

  1. Respect for Others: People using the pistes must behave in such a way that they do not put other people in danger or harm them, either by their behaviour or with their equipment.
  2. Speed & Behaviour: People using the pistes must adapt their speed and behaviour to suit their personal abilities as well as the general ground and weather conditions, the state of the snow and the density of the traffic.
  3. Choice of Direction by the Person Uphill: A skier who is uphill is in a position which enables him to choose a course; he must therefore make this choice so as to preserve the safety of anyone downhill.
  4. Overtaking: Overtaking can be done from uphill or downhill, on the right or on the left, but the person overtaking must always allow a margin for the movements of the person he is overtaking.
  5. Where Pistes Cross & When Starting Off: After stopping, or where pistes cross, all users must, by looking uphill and downhill, make sure that they can start off without endangering themselves and others.
  6. Standing: All users must avoid standing in passages which are narrow or where there is no visibility; in the event of a fall, they must get off the piste as quickly as possible.
  7. Going Up & Down on Foot: People who are obliged to go up or down a piste on foot must use the edge of the piste, taking care that neither they nor their equipment is a danger to others.
  8. Respect for Information, Markings & Signs: Users must take notice of information about weather conditions and about the state of the pistes and snow. They must respect markings and signs.
  9. Assistance: Anyone witnessing or involved in an accident must give assistance, particularly by raising the alarm. If need be, and at the request of the first-aid people, they must put themselves at their disposal.
  10. Identification: Anyone witnessing or involved in an accident must make themselves known to the emergency service and/or third parties. Swapping details with eachother must take place.