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Italian tourist killed by glacier in Alaska

File photo courtesy Wikipedia

File photo courtesy Wikipedia


Cheryl Santa Maria
Digital Reporter

Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 1:26 PM - A 28-year-old Italian tourist was killed Sunday when he was crushed by a chunk of ice that fell off a glacier, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Alexander Hellweger was with a group of friends from Italy and Belgium. A guide had taken them to the backcountry via helicopter to ski.

After that, they were taken to the glacier site, again by helicopter. 

The group was gathering for a photo when the incident occurred, according to Alaska State Trooper Spokesperson Beth Ipsen.


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"Alexander was away from the group, but making his way there when the others in his group of heli-skiiers reported hearing the crack of ice as if it was going to calve," Ipsen told AP.

"Some members of the group ran when they heard the ice start to crack. The glacier calved and a chunk fell on Alexander."

Hellweger's body was only able to be recovered the following day due to the danger of additional calving. 

Source: The Associated Press

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