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From January 18, 2018

A 25-year-old Swedish skier named D.A. died while another was rescued when an avalanche struck a popular ski resort in Gulmarg, India.

“The two Swedes were buried in snow when they were skiing high in the mountains of the tourist town of Gulmarg” said police officer Imityaz Hussain.

“The two Swedish tourists were skiing near the Apharwat peak close to the second phase of the gondola cable car project when an avalanche struck, trapping them in the snow,” said the general manager of the Cable Car Corporation.

Just a day before the incident, the weather advisory board had issued a warning about avalanches.

“The two skiers went to a remote area that is located on the left side of the main ski slope. It is dangerous for the skiers. Besides, blasting was not performed at the said area as it is already established that the area is prone to heavy avalanches,” said Showkat Ahmad, a skiing instructor.

Reacting to the Gulmarg avalanche, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Very unfortunate. How were these skiers allowed to ski off piste considering that avalanche warnings had been issued 24 hours ago?”

Baramulla deputy commissioner Nasir Naqash said they had issued an advisory on skiing but the two Swedish skiers “went far off, rather than staying at the normal skiing area.”

Note: The last two photos are from the initial rescue scene. The Swedish skier that survived the avalanche is seen trying to save his friend’s life. The first video is also footage from this moment.

[SimoneFlen']

Great post!

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Less than a month after the death of the Swedish skier D.A., a Russian snowboarder lost his life under similar circumstances. You can read about his death here.

Meanwhile in Sweden, D.A.’s body was returned to his home country and interred at a cemetery in Skåne.

When D.A. was still alive, he attempted to build a unique bench made out of old skis and had bought a set of them for his project. However due to his untimely demise, he was never able to finish his bench.

In his memory, one of D.A.’s best friends set out to finish the bench and got permission to place it next to D.A.’s burial ground. Soon, the bench became a place for D.A’.’s family and friend’s to go and seek comfort. “There are many who have gone to the grave and sat there on the bench and talked to D.A.,” said his father.

Unfortunately D.A.’s family discovered in December 2018 that someone had stolen the bench along with two lights, a hat, and a Christmas ornament.

“The bench weighs 70 kilos,” the father said. ”You have to be two men to carry it away. And you have to have a vehicle for the transport - you can't put it in a regular car. This must be prepared.”

The family has described the theft of the bench on Facebook and posted a picture of it. Many have shared the picture further and has been reposted over two thousand times.

“With that response and the reposts this has received, I don't think anyone can use the bench. At least not in Skåne” his father said.

“We have hope that it will come back. This is not about money. For us, the bench has a great sentimental value.”

No report yet on whether the bench was returned to the cemetery.

Also included in this post is a video uploaded to Youtube in 2018 of a skier that narrowly avoids an avalanche in Gulmarg. While this likely isn’t the same avalanche that killed D.A., it will give you an idea of the avalanches that occur in this part of the world.

[Loop1]

Originally Posted by Simone ↗

Great post!

Thanks

[GoreGirl89]

Awwww he was so young and trying to live life to the fullest. That bench is soooo very cool, they used his ski's?

[Loop1]

Originally Posted by GoreGirl89 ↗

Awwww he was so young and trying to live life to the fullest. That bench is soooo very cool, they used his ski's?

According to the translation, the bench is made of old alpine skis from the 70s and 80s that D.A. gathered together before he was able to finish the project himself.

[RiversEdge]

yeah. too bad. they seemed like "X-Games" type of guys who were willing to risk the dangers.

[bagpuss]

I'm a geography dumbass but I never thought India would have a ski resort

[Pangaea]

Originally Posted by bagpuss ↗

I'm a geography dumbass but I never thought India would have a ski resort

Dude.... it is confirmed now you are definitely a geography dumbass. Well, no hard feelings tho, everybody is a dumbass about something.

[murofhsirgo]

Man they were trying real hard to save that poor fella