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Death of British Mother Reignites Helmet Debate 20-02-10
A British woman has died following a high speed collision on an Austrian ski slope. Tracy Boland from Buckinghamshire was on holiday with her husband and three young children at the Austrian ski resort of Kaprun when the tragic incident took place. Mrs Boland fatally collided with a 26 year old Dutch woman while skiing an ‘easy slope’ in good conditions. The Austrian police said Mrs Boland died on the slope, despite the efforts of a doctor who had been skiing nearby, and an ambulance team who arrived at the incident within minutes. The Dutch lady had to be airlifted to a nearby clinic in Zell am See for treatment on her severe injuries.
As neither woman was wearing a helmet, the incident has reignited the debate about whether helmets should be mandatory for skiers. The Austrian authorities have made helmets compulsory for children but not adults, but this latest tragedy has reportedly led to a review which could see helmets enforced on ski slopes in Austria.
The Austrian Ski Federation also urged caution among novice skiers, warning that new technology can cause beginners to ski too fast and lose control.
