Seven people were swept away by an avalanche this Friday morning on Mont Gerbier, in Villard-de-Lans (Isère).
Six of them escaped unscathed, but a 21-year-old mountaineer died, according to our colleagues from Dauphiné Libéré.
The group was trying to reach the “ice waterfalls”, characteristic of the Gerbier walls.
But as they approached the goal, the mountaineers themselves triggered a snow slide.
“A priori, it is not a spontaneous departure” indicates the high mountain gendarmerie platoon (PGHM) to France 3.
Group supervised by a high mountain guide
After the accident, the young man was found in the flow in cardiorespiratory arrest.
His death was pronounced at the Grenoble University Hospital, where he was transported urgently.
The search was carried out by three dog teams, a Samu doctor, eight PGHM gendarmes, three CRS Alpes police officers and a firefighter.
The group of mountaineers, made up of students, was supervised by a high mountain guide, who is one of the survivors.
Also read Avalanches: what are the causes and how to protect yourself?
Éric Vaillant, public prosecutor of Grenoble, indicates to the local daily that an investigation for “involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injuries” has been opened by the prosecution and entrusted to the PGHM of Isère.
The department of Isère is currently placed on yellow alert for the risk of avalanche by Météo France.
According to the avalanche risk estimation bulletin from the meteorological service, the risk was limited this Friday above 1,700 m (2/5), and it was low lower (1/5).