A significant rescue mission unfolded on a Switzerland mountain when a skier discovered a young boy trapped beneath a layer of snow. While skiing in Engelberg, Matteo Zilla noticed a waving arm and promptly halted to assist. Through a video shared on social platforms, the 37-year-old creative director can be observed approaching the individual, who was concealed by fresh snow post an avalanche, and carefully clearing the airways.
Assisted by fellow skiers, Matteo endeavored to comfort the buried boy, assuring him of their efforts to extract him. Their prompt actions led to successfully freeing the buried skier, as Matteo recounted on Instagram: “We freed him, and fortunately, no harm was done.”
In a subsequent social media update, Matteo disclosed his initial assumption that the person had misplaced their skis, remembering seeing a man struggling to ascend without them. However, upon closer inspection, he realized the individual was entirely buried under the snow.
He narrated, “We were skiing in Engelberg on a day with heavy powder. Amidst the snowfall, we received approximately 40 to 50 centimeters of fresh powder. I noticed a distant figure attempting to walk uphill without skis, so I presumed he had lost them and descended to aid in the search.”
“However, I then glimpsed a foot protruding from the snow. Without delay, I rushed over, removed the snow covering his face and mouth, engaged him in conversation to assess any injuries, and proceeded to cautiously uncover the rest of his body.”
“We learned that he had been skiing downhill, missed spotting some small shrubs, and tumbled into the snow. Though my emotions were intense, they were inconsequential. The primary focus was on preserving his life.”
Snow avalanches are responsible for an average of 100 fatalities annually in Europe, as reported by the European Avalanche Warning Services. During the 2024/2025 season, there were 70 recorded casualties, with 20 in Switzerland, 21 in France, 11 in Italy, and eight in Austria.
In December 2024, Sophie Hediger, an Olympic snowboarder and member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, tragically perished in an avalanche at Arosa mountain resort at 26 years old. Sophie, who represented Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics and aspired to compete in the 2026 Games in Italy, was caught in the incident.
In April of the same year, a tragic avalanche in Zermatt claimed the lives of at least three individuals, including a 15-year-old, in the southern canton of Valais. A fourth person sustained injuries and was airlifted to a nearby medical facility. Valais police, in an April 1 post on Twitter, confirmed that “multiple individuals were swept away” by the avalanche, which struck around 2 pm on Easter Monday. Regrettably, three individuals, including a teenager, lost their lives, while another was injured.