An Irish man, along with two others, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash during a heliski trip in the Swiss Alps.
The fatal accident occurred on Tuesday morning as the helicopter, carrying six individuals, crashed and slid down the northern slope of the Petit Combin mountain.
Swiss Police confirmed the death of three individuals and injuries to three others, including the pilot and a mountain guide, along with four skiers.
Among the deceased were pilot Jerome Lovey and guide Adam George, while the Irish man, from the Co Dublin area and in his 30s, also perished in the crash.
The Department of Foreign Affairs expressed readiness to offer consular assistance to the family of the Irish victim.
Survivors of the crash include British brothers Teddy and Guy Hitchens and Edward Courage, who heroically pushed his companions out of the helicopter before being swept away by an avalanche.
Courage, a member of the Courage Brewery family, miraculously survived after falling an estimated 500 meters down a near-vertical slope and being stranded in a crevasse for hours.
The Hitchens brothers, despite sustaining injuries, were swiftly rescued from under the snow, while Courage was located and airlifted to safety after an extensive search.
Richard and Maeve, parents of Teddy and Guy, expressed condolences for the tragic losses and updated on their sons’ conditions, with Teddy released from the hospital and Guy still undergoing treatment.
Valais cantonal police reported the helicopter crashed during a heliski drop-off at the Petit Combin mountain summit, triggering a multi-agency rescue effort.
An investigation, led by the Swiss Safety Investigation Service, has been initiated to determine the cause of the accident, with collaboration from the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and other authorities.
Eyewitnesses described the aftermath of the crash, including an avalanche, prompting swift action to ensure the safety of those on the mountain.
