A terrifying ordeal on the icy slopes of New Hampshire's Mount Washington this weekend left a man fighting for his life after an avalanche he triggered while skiing, according to officials. Dominick Torro, a 30-year-old Bow resident, was descending Airplane Gully with a companion on December 9 when the snow around them suddenly gave way just after 11:30 a.m., as reported by Boston 25 News.
Following the avalanche, Torro's friend, along with a group of skiers, dialed 911 for help. While waiting for the emergency responders, his friend and a Good Samaritan, needing a place to load him onto a helicopter, shoveled space near the man for when help arrived, as reported by CBS News Boston. The Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) quickly dispatched a team using a Sno-Cat to traverse the mountain's Auto Road to the summit, ready to hike over the ridge and perform a rescue if needed.
The rescue team's ground efforts were supplemented when a National Guard helicopter located Torro before 3:30 p.m. He was promptly airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon for treatment of a life-threatening injury to his lower leg.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief lauded the seamless response to Torro's crisis. "This concerted effort was another display of fluid teamwork from many organizations," they revealed in a statement obtained by Boston 25 News. Not offering an update on Torro's medical status as of Monday morning, the community waits, hoping for positive news surrounding the skier's condition.
