Avalanche accident Snowboarder Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche accident in Arosa GR
The victim of the avalanche in Arosa GR on Monday evening was snowboard athlete Sophie Hediger. The member of the national snowboard cross team could only be recovered dead.
24.12.2024, 14:06
SDA
The 26-year-old native of Zurich had found a second home in Arosa and died "while freeriding, a beloved hobby", as Swiss-Ski wrote in a press release on Tuesday.
Hediger, accompanied by another snow sports enthusiast, was skiing down a closed piste at 1.15 p.m. on Monday, according to a statement from the Graubünden cantonal police. As they left the closed piste, Hediger was caught in an avalanche on a slope.
Her companion notified the rescue services and set off in search of the buried victim. She was located at around 3.30 p.m. and finally rescued from the masses of snow. According to the police, resuscitation later had to be aborted on the avalanche field without success.
Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium places last season. She came second at the main World Championships rehearsal in St. Moritz GR; winning a medal at the home World Championships in the Engadin next March was one of her sporting dreams. She was able to fulfill another by taking part in the 2022 Olympics in China.
"We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie's family, to whom we express our deepest condolences," said Walter Reusser, CEO Sport at Swiss-Ski, expressing his shock.
