Andorran Snow Cannon Operator Survives Avalanche Burial at Arcalís Resort

An Andorran snow cannon operator at Ordino Arcalís ski resort survived burial in a north-facing avalanche in the Feixans area near the Balma piste on Sunday around 11.15am, suffering cardiorespiratory arrest but revived on-site before airlift to Nostra Senyora de Meritxell hospital. The experienced young worker, equipped with an ARVA locator, was first located by piste staff and a group of young skiers planning to traverse the same popular off-piste diagonal—within the skiable domain but outside his assigned area—under a cable car for accessing fresh snow. Resort teams, including two mountain rescue members, a dog handler, and a nurse, extracted him in six minutes and conducted a 45-minute on-site resuscitation, airlifting him unconscious. He has since stabilised in intensive care, showing favourable progress and no longer at immediate risk, remaining under observation as police mountain specialists investigate his presence there and the trigger.

Resort officials described the wind slab—possibly initiated by the operator or a preceding skier breaking below wind barriers in an uncommon geomorphological feature—as serious due to injuring a worker but not large, with limited snow deposits and a gulley blocking debris to the piste. No preventive blasting had occurred, given the area's typically low risk. Protocols proved effective, reaching hospital in 10-15 minutes, shortly after a recent avalanche drill with 80 professionals.

The event occurred amid level 4 out of 5 avalanche risk in upper elevations from over 50cm of fresh snow since Friday, weak unfrozen lower layers due to dry December, northern wind slabs, and warming temperatures. Public pistes remained open to crowds, including backcountry skiers, with no other injuries or disruptions. Risk later dropped to level 3, though weak layers and wind slabs persist, prompting warnings to avoid steep slopes.

This marks the season's latest incident at Arcalís. On 29 November, a 32-year-old Spanish skier died in a 1,500-cubic-metre east-facing slab near Estany de les Abelletes at 2,675m, with a 30cm crown; his partner escaped unharmed. Last weekend, local cyclist Ares Masip triggered a slide at Hortell peak with her dog Cim, escaping injury and sharing footage online to caution against complacency in known terrain.