The parents of a 16-year-old Sydney boy killed recently in an avalanche in Austria on Monday said it was triggered by a ski patrol trying to rescue the family.
Max Meyer had been skiing off-piste at St. Anton am Arlberg with his younger brother and parents on Wednesday when an avalanche buried him in two metres of snow for 20 minutes and rescuers were unable to revive him.
His parents Thomas Meyer and Julie Schatz said in a statement that the avalanche occurred after they became stuck while skiing in a narrow valley between two main runs.
“Due to the depth of the snow, we considered it safer not to try to walk out, but to contact the ski patrol for advice and so that they would know our location,’’ the statement released through the Australian Associated Press said.
The ski patrol told them to stay where they were and await rescue.
They said: “At that point in time, we were uninjured, and in no immediate danger.
“In the process of the ski patrol trying to reach us by skiing down from above us on the opposite side of the valley, an avalanche was triggered.
“It however engulfed us and tragically led to the death of our son Max.’’
The couple said the coroner in Austria confirmed their son was killed instantly and his death was painless.
St. Anton police are investigating the incident and will prepare a final report.
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