The American teenager killed in a Swiss avalanche has been photographed for the first time and identified as Aleksas Beiga, from Illinois, the son of an Olympic swimmer.
Aleksas, 15, was one of three people who died in the colossal snowfall near a popular ski resort in Zermatt on Easter Monday.
A fourth person was also found injured and airlifted to a nearby hospital after a dramatic search in the Riffelberg area involving four helicopters.
Friends have described Aleksas as a “beacon of kindness and intelligence” who loved outdoor sports, including “gliding down the slopes on his skis” at a fundraiser organized for his family.
“Words cannot capture the depth of the pain we feel, nor adequately express the profound loss of a young soul so full of promise, joy and vitality,” they said. fundraising read.
The American teenager killed in a Swiss avalanche has been photographed for the first time and identified as Aleksas Beiga, from Illinois, the son of an Olympic swimmer.
Shocking video shows the moment the avalanche fell near the Riffelberg area
Aleksas’s father, Ned Beiga, 52, is a former Lithuanian professional swimmer who competed in the breaststroke event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Beiga now runs a Chicago-based company that restores homes after they have been damaged by emergency incidents such as fires or floods.
Friends remembered Aleksas for his “infectious laugh, boundless energy and compassionate heart” that “touched the lives of everyone who knew him” and “lit up every room he entered.”
“His vivacity knew no bounds and his enthusiasm for life was incomparable,” they wrote.
“Whether it was diving into the pool, racing down the trails on his bike, or carving the slopes on his skis, Aleksas approached every moment with enthusiasm and passion.”
“Beyond his adventurous spirit, Aleksas was a model of kindness and intelligence,” they added.
‘His warmth and empathy knew no bounds, and he had a remarkable ability to uplift those around him with his words and actions.
“Whether it was through a witty joke that sparked laughter in a dark time or a thoughtful gesture that offered comfort to a friend in need, Aleksas had a profound impact on everyone who crossed his path.”
The fundraiser said the teenager’s “sudden” death had left an “irreparable void in the hearts of his family and friends”.
He adds that GoFundMe was launched to help with the expenses of bringing Aleksas’ body home.
Aleksas’ father, Ned Beiga, 52, is a former Lithuanian professional swimmer who competed in the breaststroke event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Authorities warn that there is still a risk of avalanches amid hurricane-force winds in the region
After the avalanche, 45 rescuers rushed to find the missing skiers.
They were helped by eight avalanche dog handlers, 13 rescue specialists, 15 firefighters and local ski instructors.
“The deceased are a 15-year-old American as well as a man and a woman whose identification has not yet been completed,” according to a statement from local authorities.
The injured man was a 20-year-old Swiss man, they added.
Authorities warn of the risk of more disasters amid heavy snowfall and hurricane-force winds in the region.
The skiers were reportedly in an area prone to deep snow outside the marked ski slopes around 2 p.m. when the avalanche occurred.
“It seemed to me that at the time of the avalanche there were several people on the slope,” a horrified witness told local media Blick.
Bruno Jelk, former head of Zermatt’s mountain rescue service and current head of Mattertal avalanche monitoring, said several had gone off the piste on a “very steep slope” where footprints could still be seen.
“The search was not so easy at first,” saying Anjan Truffer, head of rescue at Air Zermatt.
Two of the victims were found with avalanche-seeking devices on their person, authorities said.
Police said the other two victims were a man and a woman, whose “identifications are still in progress.”
Skiers descend the slopes of Riffelberg with the Matterhorn in the background, 2012
General view of the popular tourist resort of Zermatt in southern Switzerland
Truffer added: “At the moment, thank God, we have no more signs of people who may be buried.”
The ski area was about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level and experiences intermittent avalanche warnings.
A lot of snow fell over the Easter weekend as the mountains were hit by strong hurricane-force winds, according to local media. reported.
“Very large and in some cases extremely large spontaneous avalanches can be expected,” says the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research.
‘The slopes are 100 percent insured. “There is no risk to the safety of people who only spend time on the slopes,” Truffer added.