Fatal accident in the Tatra Mountains. Poles died

There was a tragic accident involving Polish tourists in the Mięguszowiecka Valley in the Slovak Tatras on Wednesday. According to the Horská záchranná service, two people, aged 31 and 41, got stuck in the exit shaft. The injured were completely buried in snow. After being rescued from the avalanche, resuscitation was attempted on one of the people, but vital functions could not be restored. Avalanche danger level 3 applies in the Tatra Mountains.

Death of Poles in the Tatra Mountains

On Wednesday, February 25, in the afternoon, Slovak mountain rescuers received a report of an avalanche in the Mięguszowiecka Valley area. According to the reporting parties, snow covered two people from Poland, aged 31 and 41, who were in the downhill shaft of Nižna Popradzka Štrbina in Popradzki Grzbiet. Unfortunately, the people reporting did not have avalanche detectors with them and could not directly help the buried people.

However, Czech ski mountaineers were available on site and started searching for the missing people using detectors. At the same time, a helicopter with rescuers was already heading to the site.

Unfortunately, the injured could not be saved. Czech tourists who found the first person started the resuscitation process, but it was not successful. The second person suffered too much damage during the avalanche and died under the snow. Her body was found by Slovak rescuers.

High level of avalanche danger

Rescuers remind us that the current avalanche danger level in the High and Western Tatras in Slovakia is level three on a five-level scale. Horska Zachranna Service (HZS) appeals to tourists and skiers not to ski on slopes with an inclination of more than 30 degrees. It is also dangerous to use the trails underneath them.

According to TOPR, the situation may be further worsened by warming in the coming days.