A 49-year-old Austrian man, local to the area, died at the scene after the collision with another skier on the 1,965m mountain.
A cable car in Austrian Alps
A 14-year-old Irish boy has been interviewed by Austrian police after he left the scene of a fatal ski collision in the Alps.
The accident took place on the Schmittenhöhe mountain in Zell am See on Saturday, around 68k from Salzburg.
A 49-year-old Austrian man, local to the area, died at the scene after the collision with another skier on the 1,965m mountain.
Medical personnel attended to the man but he was later pronounced dead.
The 14-year-old Irish citizen left the scene but several witnesses provided police with descriptions.
It was reported the police seized lost ski rental equipment and a search was launched to find the boy.
A police spokesperson said: “A 14-year-old boy was involved in an accident on Saturday. The family got information in the media that the man died. They went to a police station in Zell am See and reported he was the other one involved in the accident.
“There was a search for the boy, as maybe he did not know the man had died. The information we have is that the boy was interviewed by police today and he made a statement at the police station but there’s no further information.
“We don’t have information on what part of Ireland the boy is from but he is an Irish citizen and not from Northern Ireland. He was on holiday with his family.”
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The police are not aware yet of how the investigation will progress. However, normally a police statement is made and a court then deals with the case.
“People who are 14 can be brought to the court, but with this case I can’t say any further information,” the spokesperson said.
“We can’t say anything further, as we haven’t got any more information… The investigation is ongoing and there are no further details.”
According to reports, the public prosecutor’s office ordered an autopsy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said “The Department is aware of reporting on a skiing accident in the Alps. Officials, including those in Embassy Vienna, stand ready to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens that request it.”
Schmittenhöhe is one of the top ski destinations in the world. Skiers holiday there for the 77km slopes.