Skier Sustains Life-Threatening Leg Injury After Triggering Avalanche on Mount Washington

Dominic Torro, 30, was skiing the New Hampshire mountain on Saturday when the accident occurred

A New Hampshire skier suffered a life-threatening leg injury after he triggered an avalanche on Mount Washington, authorities said.

Dominic Torro, 30, was skiing an area of the mountain called Airplane Gully with a friend when the incident occurred on Saturday around 11:35 a.m. local time, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division said in a release on Facebook.

"Torro’s friend and another unrelated skier, skied over to assist Torro," authorities said. "The two other skiers gave aid to Torro and called 911 for assistance. This 911 call started the rescue process."

The 911 call kicked off a complicated rescue operation in which multiple agencies collaborated, including New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation officers, US Forest Service Snow Rangers and the National Guard, the NHFGC added.

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In an Instagram post, Torro said that while first responders were mobilizing an emergency response, his friend, whom he identified as Adam, and another skier named Kevin rendered aid while also shoveling a landing area for the National Guard helicopter.

"Both skiers that gave aid did a great job with consideration to the conditions and situation," authorities said. "While waiting for the National Guard Helicopter to arrive, the skiers shoveled out an area on the side slope so that the paramedic and litter that would be lowered down from the National Guard Helicopter would have enough space to load Torro and hoist him into the helicopter while it hovered above."

Just after 3 p.m., the helicopter was able to reach Torro, who was then flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon to be treated for his injuries, New Hampshire Fish and Game said.

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Even though the Mount Washington Avalanche Center (MWAC) had issued an advisory for the area, Torro said he and Adam proceeded to ski down the mountain after observing that the “snowpack appeared stable.”

“About 30’ into my run I heard Adam yelling avalanche,” he wrote in his Instagram post. “A slab broke above me, just below a rock with a crown line about 15’ wide and 1.5’ tall. Several smaller, disconnected, loaded pockets also ripped loose.”

The video footage, shared by the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, shows a first-hand view of what the experience was like. The skier yells “Whoa,” as a torrent of snow begins to cascade around him.

The Bow, New Hampshire, resident said he was carried about 500 feet but managed to stay on top of the debris. “I never lost consciousness and protected my head,” he said.

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But when he came to a stop, he noticed he only had one ski on — and his leg had sustained a compound fracture, he added in his post.

Torro said in another post that Adam and Kevin then called 911 as they dug a platform on which they could work to stabilize Torro and used a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He added that he was awaiting surgery on his leg and that he was anticipating going home this week.

“I am incredibly grateful for the rescue teams, the National Guard, Adam and Kevin for their help," he said.

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“Be safe out there," Torro added. "This could have happened to anyone recreating in the backcountry. I am going to use this as a learning and teaching experience as I further my knowledge and skill set of snow science and backcountry travel.”

Every year, an average of 25 people are injured on the challenging slopes of the mountain, which is the highest peak in the Northeast, according to the MWAC.

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