Man buried by avalanche dies in hospital
A tourist who was buried by an avalanche in the Polish Tatra Mountains on Sunday has died in hospital.
The man had been on a trail leading to the top of Giewont, a popular climb in the Polish Tatra range, during a time of high avalanche risk.
He was one of four people who were swept away by the snow when the avalanche hit.
Three managed to free themselves, but he remained buried for two hours before being found by members of the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service (TOPR).
The man, who has not been named, was taken off the mountain by helicopter and transported to a hospital in Krakow.
He later died from the effects of hypothermia and suffocation.
The victim was not carrying an avalanche safety kit, which the TOPR recommends. The kit includes an avalanche beacon, which rescuers can use to detect somebody buried in the snow.
"The current third-degree avalanche warning means that even the seemingly safe trail up to Morskie Oko is at risk of avalanche," said the TOPR. "Unfortunately, many tourists hike in the higher parts of Tatra Mountains despite the danger of avalanches or bad weather conditions. Our advice is to change your hiking plans." (PAP)
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