Dec 30, 2023 at 1:02 AM Update: 2 hours ago
A French woman miraculously survived a fall of hundreds of meters from a snowy mountain on Thursday. She climbed the Pic du Midi with her family, without proper equipment. The fall left her with only a few bruises.
The 47-year-old woman decided to climb the top of the 2,877 meter high Pic du Midi during her holiday with her husband and two children. That mountain is located near the French ski area Le Grand Tourmalet in the Pyrenees. During the climb she fell hundreds of meters, the French news channel reports CNews.
Rescue workers came to the rescue after the fall, including with a helicopter. The woman appeared to have suffered only a few bruises from the fall. After the doctor’s examination, she can continue her holiday.
According to police, the family was not well equipped to climb the mountain peak in the winter conditions. The only special equipment they wore were snowshoes. These are also called snow rackets, because there is a type of racket under the shoe that gives the wearer more grip in the snow. The family also did not wear helmets.
The snowshoes are not enough for the climb, says a police officer. “All slopes are covered with snow and even a snowshoe can’t hold that.” The agent emphasizes that climbing to the top requires real climbing equipment, such as a helmet, crampons, a snow ax and special climbing shoes.
According to the agent, several tourists have asked in recent weeks whether it is possible to climb the peak with snowshoes. “We strongly advise against doing that.”
Beeld: Getty Images
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RemarkableFranceAbroadWinter sports
2023-12-30 00:02:33
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