A
couple of tourists from Buenos Aires were
trapped by an avalanche
when they were walking back to Bariloche from the San Martín refuge
, located above the Jakob Lagoon some
21 kilometers from the town.
It happened this Thursday.
The man managed to get ahead among the material that devastated them and took his 35-year-old wife.
But this she had suffered serious injuries to her legs:
she finally had
one of hers amputated at the Zonal Hospital in the city.
For his part, the man had
minor injuries and blows
to different points of the body.
This type of walk usually lasts between 5 and 6 hours, and is considered of
medium difficulty
.
The Nahuel Huapi Park administration had already warned the many tourists who visit Bariloche these days about the
yellow alert from the National Meteorological Service
, in relation to the possibility of electrical storms.
The recommendation indicated not to travel through beaches and mountains.
The helicopter transfer of the woman to the hospital.
A rescue operation took them to the local Zonal Hospital, where the woman was immediately intervened.
According to reports, the doctors had to amputate one of his legs due to the depth of his injuries to the muscles and tendons.
The blow of the avalanche had caused him an
open fracture
through which he lost a large amount of blood, according to what was learned.
Upon arrival at the health center, the woman was
in shock
.
Mountain path that leads to the San Martín refuge, next to the Jakob lagoon in Bariloche.
“He has some trauma.
An important one in the left leg.
So she has an open fracture of the tibia and fibula.
The evacuation is complete and we are collecting more information," said the park's mayor, Horario Paradela, to the newspaper Río Negro.
As far as he knows, both tourists
had slept in the San Martin refuge and were already returning to the city.
About three kilometers from the so-called Tambo Báez, when they were trying to get their supplies of water and cross a river, they were hit by an avalanche made up of
a strong current of water and the remains of plates
from the sector that were advancing at high speed.
The rescue of tourists in Bariloche.
Photo Courtesy Juan Manuel Boos for Al Margen
The current mixed with stones, pieces of wood and mud
surprised the couple
, who could not escape.
But the worst part was taken by the woman, who
ended up covered in material.
After a few moments, her boyfriend managed to find her and hurried to put a tourniquet on her battered leg, reported journalist Verónica Battaglia on the El Margen website.
Someone who was with them but who was able to flee
called the park emergencies.
It is estimated that the avalanche was the product of the
intense storms
that have been affecting a large part of Patagonia these days.
The Nahuel Huapi park, with the effects of the intense rains of these days.
Photo Courtesy Juan Manuel Boos for Al Margen
The operation was carried out by the Department of Fires, Communications and Emergencies, the Club Andino Bariloche Assistance Commission and the Argentine National Gendarmerie and included a helicopter that allowed the woman to be transferred more quickly to the local hospital.
Although the tourist is stabilized, her condition is serious and she is assisted with mechanical ventilation, it was learned.
Bariloche. Correspondent
ACE
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