The staff of a £57,000-a-year boarding school in Switzerland said are ‘deeply saddened’ after a British student, 18, was killed in an avalanche during a school skiing trip, which also buried a female student from the US who is still missing.
Seven students of the prestigious Swiss boarding school Ecole d’Humanité were on a ski tour when an avalanche went down at the Gstelliwang near Meiringen at 4.25pm on Tuesday, March 21.
The school said in a statement that the ‘very experienced group’ had taken the necessary precautions for a ski tour, like taking the avalanche bulletin into account and equipping the students with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels.
Despite these measures, an avalanche broke loose and buried two students. Even though search and rescue efforts began immediately, for an 18-year-old British student ‘any help came too late’, the school said.
The school statement about the tragedy read: ‘We regret this terrible accident and are deeply saddened.
Seven students of the prestigious Swiss boarding school Ecole d’Humanité were on a ski tour when an avalanche went down at the Gstelliwang near Meiringen at 4.25pm on Tuesday, March 21 (pictured: the search for the buried American student)
The school said in a statement that the ‘very experienced group’ had taken the necessary precautions for a ski tour, like taking the avalanche bulletin into account and equipping the students with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels
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‘We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to all students, their families and relatives.’
The search for the second buried student, who Ecole d’Humanité said is a girl from the US, is still ongoing after it was interrupted around 7.30pm on Tuesday and only continued at light the next day.
The 18-year-old man who died in the avalanche was originally from England but had been living in Bern, where he attended the £57,000-a-year international school.
The school in the town of Hasliberg is just a short distance away from the Gstelliwang ski slope on the Wellhorn mountain in the area of Meiringen, the next town over.
The fatal avalanche struck at around 4.25pm. Mountain rescue teams and a helicopter were deployed to help survivors.
The two students, who were on the ski tour with a mountain guide, a youth and sports leader as well as three other external persons, were driving down the Gstelliwang as an avalanche broke off and buried them both underneath, according to the cantonal police in Bern.
Swiss Alpine Rescue Rega crews, Swiss Alpine Rescue, several Rega, Air-Glaciers and Swiss Helicopter helicopters, mountain specialists and other employees of the Bern canton police and the Canton of Bern Care Team are currently searching for the second individual.
The school said there has been a care team available for those who need it since Tuesday evening.
It added: ‘There are also people present for psychological care, including individual grief counseling. This comprehensive assistance will continue until students depart.’
