The call for help came in an unusual way – Rega was alerted through its app, but due to bad signal, the crew couldn’t call the victims to confirm their location. The Rega app, however, showed where the call came from and the head of operations decided to send a rescue helicopter to the location.

The helicopter flew from Rega’s base at Samedan towards Alp Apriglia in Zuoz, wherea 200-m long avalanche had buried three people of a group of five skiers. The two who were unscathed had already tried to free the others.

The Rega medics helped free the three people and gave first aid. The patients were flown to hospital for treatment of hypothermia and minor injuries.

The Rega crews fly about 30 avalanche operations per year. In winter, the Rega helicopters will always include avalanche search equipment.