Friday, February 8th 2013, at 11am, a big avalanche, clearly visible from Chamonix town center, ripped down the Nant Pcheu couloir, in the Brevent ski area.
The Chamonix PGHM quickly flew over the area. Suspecting the presence of a skier, rescuers were airlifted to the debris zone of the avalanche. The PGHM detected a victim, equipped with an ARVA (avalanche victim detector). A lifeless body was recovered.
The skier had been off-piste within the ski area of Le Brevent. According to PGHM, the skier was very well equipped with all the recommended safety equipment: transceiver, helmet and an ABS back pack that inflates to help keep an avalanche victim on the surface of an avalanche.
Also on Friday, Chamonix PGHM recovered the body of a Lithuanian climber from the Couloir Lagarde, on the north face of the Droites.
Source Le Dauphiné
