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An American teenager is feared dead after being buried by a ‘massive’ 50ft-deep avalanche while skiing on a school trip in the Bernese Alps.
Colorado-born Emily Franciose, a senior at boarding school Ecole d’Humanité, has still not been found after she was trapped under the 2,000ft-wide avalanche on the Gstelliwang slope in Bern, Switzerland.
Franciose was skiing with her classmates when the tragedy struck at 4.25pm on Tuesday, March 21. The school confirmed yesterday that another student, an 18-year-old British boy who was with Emily at the time, died on the mountain.
According to posts on social media, Swiss rescue teams have found Emily’s backpack in the mounds of snow – however they have not uncovered her body.
Officials and Emily’s loved ones are said to have determined there was ‘no chance of survival’ and recovery of her body may not be possible until Spring.
Emily Franciose (pictured) a senior at boarding school Ecole d’Humanité, has still not been found after she was trapped under the 2,000ft-wide avalanche on the Gstelliwang slope in Bern, Switzerland
Tommy Johnson posted a note on Instagram suggesting that Franciose still has not been found and that her parents, Reg and Sue, have been told that there is ‘no chance of survival and was conclusively killed
Franciose’s mother, Sue, had shared a Facebook photo of her daughter celebrating the beginning of her senior year at the prestigious Swiss boarding school Ecole d’Humanité last August.
She wrote: ‘Senior year of high school has begun…. The backdrop is a bit different though.’
Franciose was taking pictures on the slopes and posting on social media about the ski trip, up until March 14.
Devastated teachers at the $70,000-a-year school revealed they were ‘deeply saddened’ after news that the 18-year-old British student had died.
They have not made a public statement about Emily, as rescue teams are set to continue searching for her this weekend.
Seven students were on a ski tour when an avalanche struck on the Gstelliwang ski slope near Meiringen on March 21.
The body of the male British student was found while a search continued for Franciose, who is believed to also be buried under snow. Neither have been named by Swiss officials.
The school said in a statement that the ‘very experienced group’ had taken precautions for a ski tour, equipping students with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels.
Search and rescue efforts began immediately, but ‘any help came too late’ for the 18-year-old Brit, the school said in a message to parents.
Franciose had been taking pictures of the ski trip. Devastated teachers at the $70,000-a-year school revealed they were ‘deeply saddened’ after news that the 18-year-old British student had died. They have not made a public statement about Emily, as rescue teams are set to continue searching for her this weekend
Franciose’s final Instagram post went up on February 19
Seven students of the prestigious Swiss boarding school Ecole d’Humanité were on a ski tour when an avalanche struck at the Gstelliwang near Meiringen at 4.25pm on Tuesday, March 21 (pictured: the search for the buried American student)
The school said in a statement that the ‘very experienced group’ had taken precautions for a ski tour, equipping students with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels. Search and rescue efforts began immediately, but ‘any help came too late’ for the 18-year-old Brit, the school (pictured) said in a message to parents
The school statement about the tragedy read: ‘We regret this terrible accident and are deeply saddened. We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to all students, their families and relatives.’
The search for the second buried student is still ongoing after it was interrupted around 7.30pm on Tuesday and only continued at light the next day, though it appears to since been called off.
The 18-year-old Brit who died in the avalanche was originally from England but had been living in Bern, where he attended the prestigious international school.
The school in the town of Hasliberg is just a short distance away from the Gstelliwang ski slope on the Wellhorn mountain in the area of Meiringen, the next town over.
The fatal avalanche struck at around 4.25pm. Mountain rescue teams and a helicopter were deployed to help survivors.
The two students, who were on the ski tour with a mountain guide, a youth and sports leader as well as three other external individuals, were heading down the Gstelliwang slope as an avalanche struck and buried them both underneath, according to the cantonal police in Bern.
Swiss Alpine Rescue Rega crews, Swiss Alpine Rescue, several Rega, Air-Glaciers and Swiss Helicopter helicopters, mountain specialists and other employees of the Bern canton police and the Canton of Bern Care Team are currently searching for the second individual.
The school said there has been a care team available for those who need it since Tuesday evening.
It added: ‘There are also people present for psychological care, including individual grief counseling. This comprehensive assistance will continue until students depart.’
The Gstelliwang slope where the avalanche struck is at the foot of the northwest face of the Wellhorn.
It is assigned the height of nearly 2118 meters according to a Swiss topography map.
In summer and winter, however, you can still climb almost 400 meters further up to the foot of the north-west face of the Wellhorn.
The school said in a statement that the ‘very experienced group’ had taken the necessary precautions for a ski tour, like taking the avalanche bulletin into account and equipping the students with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels
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