Ordino Bids Farewell to 32-Year-Old Ski Worker Killed in Avalanche
Hundreds gathered for an emotional funeral mass in Ordino for the young Arcalís resort employee who succumbed to injuries from a high-risk avalanche.
Key Points
- Funeral mass on Sunday filled Església d'Ordino with family, friends, colleagues, and officials.
- Worker died Wednesday after avalanche injuries between Feixans and Balma piste; sole victim.
- Avalanche danger rated 4/5 at high elevations; trigger unclear.
- Preceded by wake on Jan 17 in Escaldes-Engordany.
Ordino held a crowded funeral mass on Sunday for the 32-year-old Ordino Arcalís ski resort worker who died from avalanche injuries, drawing family, friends, snow industry colleagues, and officials to the parish church.
The ceremony filled the Església d'Ordino completely, marked by silence, emotion, and respect. It highlighted the widespread shock across the victim's close circle and the country at large, in a community closely tied to mountain and winter activities. Tributes and remembrances during the service underscored the tragedy's impact.
The event followed a wake on Saturday, January 17, at the Sala de Vetlla in Escaldes-Engordany, open from 4pm to 8pm for mourners to pay respects.
The worker died on Wednesday after four days in intensive care at Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. He suffered severe injuries in the avalanche last Sunday midday between Feixans and the Balma piste in the resort's ski area. A helicopter evacuated him urgently, but he could not recover.
Authorities noted the avalanche affected only him, causing no damage to others or the open slopes. It occurred amid high risk, with avalanche danger rated 4 out of 5 at high elevations per weekend snow bulletins. The specific trigger for the snow slide remains unclear.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: