DR. HERMANN BRUGGER

President of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine - ICAR MEDCOM

"Whether or not someone survives an avalanche depends on several factors. However, the most important factor is whether or not the person manages to stay on the surface during the avalanche or is completely buried.

That makes all the difference. If the person remains on the surface, the mortality rate is between 3 and 4%; if completely buried, the mortality rate is 54%."