Update 31 August 06:30 Martigny and Valais, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The week’s end death and serious injury toll from non-road accidents in the Lake Geneva area in Switzerland was high, with 2 young men in critical condition after a swimming pool accident in Martigny and a diving accident in Prangins, and three people dead from mountain climbing accidents.
An American student, 20, is in critical condition, reports the Tribune de Geneve, following a diving accident Sunday afternoon at the Plage de Promenthoux in Prangins. Diving is banned along the lakefront in the area because of the shallow water. He was flown by a Rega helicopter to the Lucerne paraplegic trauma centre after receiving emergency treatment at the site of the accident.
A 23-year-old and two friends climbed the municipal pool fence at 05:00 Saturday, according to 24 Heures, and once in the pool two of them noticed that their friend was missing.
Graubuenden, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) – Three climbers died in a 400-metre fall Saturday when the rope holding them together gave way. Investigators believe a snow plate gave way under their weight when they were at 3,750m altitude. The three, a 35-year-old couple from Zurich and a 41-year-old man from St Gallen, were on the Piz Palue after spending the night at the Diavolezza hut.
The deaths bring to 23 the number of people who died during the 2008-2009 winter season in the Swiss Alps, just under the average of 25, according to TSR.
