Julie Pomagalski died accidentally on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at the age of 40 after being swept away by an avalanche, according to the French ski federation. The federation did not specify the location. French and Swiss media reported that the avalanche took place on Gemsstock mountain in the Swiss canton of Uri. The federation said a guide, Bruno Cutelli, also died in the avalanche.
In a press release, the Uri canton police said: “Tuesday, March 23, 2021, shortly before 12 noon, the Uri canton police received the report of an avalanche in the Steintäler area in the Unteralptal. A group of four freeriders from France was on the descent from the Gemsstock. Suddenly a slab came loose for reasons that were still unexplained. As a result, three people slide down the slope with the slab. One person was slightly injured and was flown to Uri Cantonal Hospital by Rega. The other two people were completely buried. Any help came too late for them.
“The rescue station Andermatt-Göschenen, the SOS station Gemsstock, two avalanche search dogs from the ARZ, Swiss Helicopter, Rega, the Care Teams NW and UR, a local funeral home, the canton doctor and the public prosecutor of the canton of Uri as well as the canton police of Uri were on duty.”
The French Olympic team released a statement on Twitter, reading: “All thoughts of the France Olympic team and the CNOSF go to Julie Pomagalski’s family, to those close to her, to @FedFranceSki. The tragic death of Julie, snowboard world champion and Olympian, leaves the France OLY team in mourning for one of their own.”
