Avalanche kills foreign tourist in Patagonia

A foreign tourist was found dead after being swept away by an avalanche in Patagonia in the south of Argentina, rescue workers in the resort city of Bariloche confirmed Thursday.

The avalanche took place late Wednesday on Mount López, one of the most popular hiking spots in the picturesque region of lakes and mountains. 

Two Argentine nationals survived the event, officials added.

"The lifeless body of a foreigner was found and later we found another person alive with some bruises but no major injuries," said Carlos Madjinca, head of Civil Protection for Bariloche.

A second survivor was also rescued, suffering from hypothermia.

Madjinca could not confirm the nationality of the dead woman, though the La Nación newspaper reported that she was a 27-year-old Scottish national.

The three were believed to have been cross-country skiing when the avalanche was triggered.

Rescue workers from the Police, Army, Gendarmerie, Club Andino  mountaineering organisation, national park rangers and fire service launched a search operation for the trio after noticing that they did not return to their mountain lodge in the evening.

The second survivor managed to make contact with emergency services via mobile phone, despite being buried under the snow. He has hypothermia and frostbite.

"It's a miracle, he was trapped under his skis. He was able to get his arm out to use his phone but was unable to get out of the snow because his body was stuck," Nahuel Campitelli, an official from Club Andino, told the TN television network.

Neither survivor had life-threatening injuries, Madjinca said, adding that an investigation into the death of the foreign woman had been launched.

– TIMES/AFP