22 February 2024 , 16:20
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A skier narrowly avoided an on-slope disaster after a helicopter soaring over the piste dropped its load and a huge gas cylinder tumbled down the piste.
The helicopter was travelling over the Aprica ski resort in Sondrio in northern Italy, when the gas cylinder came loose and hit the ground, causing a puff of snow to cloud up around it before it trundled down the mountain, narrowly missing skiers.
As it gained speed, the cylinder brushed past a skier but they managed to dodge it just in time. Others skiing down the slope moved to the side to avoid it, according to Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Thankfully, there were no injuries and the cause of the incident is currently unknown. Though the resort is currently enjoying good conditions, more pistes have been shuttered across Europe amid a critical shortage of snow after a record mild winter.
Entire mountainsides that would once be crammed with skiiers currently look bare during peak season, which starts from mid-to-late February. One example is the French ski resort of Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, where lifts are at a standstill due to lack of snow amid 13C temperatures. Le Parisien newspaper has described it as "unprecedented". Locals declared: "I didn't think I'd see it in my lifetime."
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
Earlier this month, a "warm and funny" British man died after plunging down one of the world's most dangerous ski slopes. Grahame Carter, a 47-year-old from Chichester, West Sussex, is understood to have fallen several hundred metres to his death in an accident at Valais ski resort near Champery last week. Police said he had entered the infamous slope, known as the 'Swiss Wall', with two other people. The area was closed at the time due to icy conditions.
Mr Carter died at the scene following the fall, despite attempts being made to resuscitate him. He was the third British to die in ski-related incidents in Europe in only two weeks.
Some resorts have been forced to close amid an unprecedented warm winter (AFP via Getty Images)Grahame Carter worked as chief sales officer at Gattaca, a specialist engineering recruitment firm. In a company statement on social media paying tribute, CEO Matthew Wragg wrote: "It is hard to put into words how loved and respected Grahame was. He joined us over 20 years ago in 2001 and leaves behind an enormous legacy – not only of the thousands of people for whom he helped build careers but of the countless close relationships with colleagues and customers he fostered during his time at Gattaca.
"If you knew Grahame, you’ll know how warm, kind, funny, caring and generous he was. He had an infectious passion for life and was more than a respected leader within our business – he was a dear friend to many, myself included. Everyone at Gattaca will miss him terribly and cherish the many wonderful memories we shared with him."
Grahame's wife Roma Carter, with whom he had a son named Harry and a daughter, Evie, responded to the firm's post on LinkedIn with her own emotional message, where she pledged that her family would continue to "make him proud".
She wrote: “It is so clear how much he was loved. He was very easy to love - crazy and impetuous and kind and gentle and the best listener. And excellent at teaching everyone Ice Ice Baby! I was lucky to have him in my life for over 25 years - from the 90s working together at The Wine Vaults (it was the 90s - he had very impressive sideburns. He drove his old Saab and I drove my Morris Minor) to now he stayed true to his values.