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Australian Boy Killed in Avalanche While Skiing in Austria

News

Max Meyer, a 16-year-old boy from Sydney was killed in an avalanche at the St. Anton am Arlberg ski village on Wednesday

The holiday of an Australian family has ended in tragedy after their teenage son was killed by an avalanche while skiing in Austria, the boy was buried alive and died in front of his horrified family. Police said the teenage boy was skiing with his family in the late afternoon, with his father, 58, mother, 55, and younger brother, 14, but when they could not proceed any further down the mountain due to very steep terrain, they decided to call for help.

Right after the family issued an emergency call for help, an avalanche broke off and buried the mother and the son, but while the mother was able to free herself, the boy was buried under two meters of snow. Rescuers reached Max about 20 minutes later, but he could not be revived, according to Patrick Wechner from St Anton police.

Max Meyer was a student at Sydney's International Grammar School and about to enter year 11. School Principal Shauna Colnan has offered support in an email to parents on Thursday night, confirming the death to the public on Friday in a statement: “It is with deep sadness that I informed our school community yesterday that one of our students has died in an avalanche while skiing with his family.”

She added: “I have spoken with Max’s father and have extended my deepest condolences on behalf of the IGS school community, and offered the family all of our support. We will continue to support the family through the coming days and beyond.”

The young boy’s death was caused due to heavy snowfall that continues to gravely affect travel and tourism in parts of the Alps. At least 15 people have died in the European countries affected by the recent snowfall in the last few days. The highest snow red warnings will continue in Germany and Austria in the next few days as well, with several places being already cut off.

 

Source: news.com.au

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