Courmayeur, Aosta Valley – On Sunday morning an avalanche took the life of two Swedish women, the second body was recovered on Monday as bad weather conditions temporarily halted the rescue operation.

 Warnings of a high-risk avalanche had been published that day, but the two friends of the Swedish women who are alpine guides nonetheless decided to attempt the rarely used ski run known as the “Spanish canal”.

 The four friends, all aged between 21 and 25, were skiing in the Spanish canal in the Veny valley when a block of snow fell from a height of 2.300 m, The avalanche completely covered what most expert skiers would consider a “paradise” ski run about 1.000 m, ANSA reports,

 The first girl was immediately found by the alpine guide, and despite several attempts of reanimation, her body was later brought to the mortuary chamber of the village.

 The second girl, aged 25, was dragged down the mountain by the avalanche to another 400 m. Rescuers were only able to start the search for her when weather conditions improved on Monday morning, but the Alpine rescuers of Entrèves were unable to save the young woman.

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