A member of the Canadian Armed Forces is presumed dead after he disappeared when he was caught in an avalanche in Switzerland while on leave from a Jordanian deployment.
Captain Sean Thomas was one of the three people killed in the colossal snowfall near a popular ski resort in Zermatt Easter Monday. Nicole (Nikky) Nagy, 25, from Waterloo, and Aleksas Beiga, 15, from Illinois also died.
The Department of National Defense announced his death in a news release and said they are mourning the loss of Thomas, an infantry officer who deployed to Operation IMPACT in the Middle East as part of the Canadian Training Assistance Team in Jordan.
Chief of Defense Staff General Wayne Eyre said: “At this time of deep reflection and sadness, our thoughts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Captain Sean Thomas.
“We remember and honor Captain Thomas not only for his service, but also for the unwavering dedication and professionalism with which he served our nation. His absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him and served alongside him.”
Captain Sean Thomas was one of three people killed in the colossal snowfall near a popular ski resort in Zermatt on Easter Monday
Shocking video showed the moment the avalanche touched down near the Riffelberg area
There were no other CAF members in the area at the time of the avalanche, the statement said.
Defense Minister Bill Blair said: “We join all Canadians in expressing our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Captain Sean Thomas, who is believed to have lost his life in a tragic avalanche in Switzerland.
“Canadians will remember the dedication and sacrifices he and his family made as he proudly served our country.”
Vice Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, said: “It is with heavy hearts that we learned the devastating news that Captain Sean Thomas is missing and presumed dead after being caught in an avalanche while on leave from Operation Switzerland. ended up. INFLUENCE.’
He added: “I am deeply saddened by this incident, which occurred during what should have been a time of well-deserved rest. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones of Captain Sean Thomas and we will do all we can to support them in their time of grief.”
Thomas, who was vacationing in Riffelberg, Switzerland, from Operation IMPACT in the Middle East, was scheduled to return to Canada in May 2024. In 2018, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces.
Another Canadian killed in the avalanche was a 25-year-old woman, since identified as Nicole ‘Nikki’ Nagy from Waterloo, Ontario.
Nagy has worked as a paramedic in Perth County since 2022 and previously worked as a firefighter with the La Ronge Regional Fire Department in Perth County.
The Swiss avalanche also killed an American teenager – identified as 15-year-old Aleksas Beiga of Illinois, a son of an Olympic swimmer.
A fourth person was found injured and flown to a nearby hospital after a dramatic hunt in the Riffelberg area involving four helicopters.
Friends described Aleksas as a “beacon of kindness and intelligence” who loved outdoor sports, including “climbing the slopes on his skis” in a fundraising campaign launched for his family.
“Words cannot capture the depth of grief we feel, nor adequately express the profound loss of a young soul so full of promise, joy and vitality,” they say. fundraising is reading.
The child’s father, Ned Beiga, 52, is a Lithuanian former professional swimmer who competed in the breaststroke at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Friends remembered Aleksas for his “infectious laugh, boundless energy and compassionate heart” who “touched the lives of all who knew him” and “brightened every room he entered.”
“His vibrancy knew no bounds, and his zest for life was unparalleled,” they wrote.
“Whether he was diving into the pool, racing the trails on his bike, or climbing the slopes on his skis, Aleksas approached every moment with enthusiasm and passion.”
The American teenager killed in a Swiss avalanche has been pictured for the first time and identified as Aleksas Beiga of Illinois, son of an Olympic swimmer
Authorities warn an avalanche risk remains amid hurricane-force winds in the region
In the aftermath of the avalanche, 45 rescuers searched for the missing skiers.
They were assisted by eight avalanche dog guides, 13 rescue specialists, 15 firefighters and local ski instructors.
“The deceased are a 15-year-old American and a man and a woman whose identification has not yet been completed,” said a statement from local authorities.
The injured person was a 20-year-old Swiss man, she added.
Authorities are warning of the risk of more disasters due to 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 struck.
Skiers race down the slopes of Riffelberg in 2012 with the Matterhorn mountain in the background
General view of the popular seaside resort of Zermatt in southern Switzerland
“It seemed like there were several people on the slope at the time of the avalanche,” a shocked witness told local newspaper Blick.
Bruno Jelk, former head of Zermatt’s mountain rescue service and current head of Mattertal’s avalanche monitoring, said several people had come off the slopes on a “very steep slope” where tracks could still be seen.
‘The search was not that easy in the beginning’ said Anjan Truffer, head of rescue at Air Zermatt.
Two of the victims were found with avalanche seekers on their bodies, authorities said.