Ski Accident - can anyone help?

I was badly injured in an accident in Les Gets on 24 March 2010.

I was in a lesson group with an ESF instructor and stationary at the side of a red slope (Slope Arbis) when I was struck from behind by a French man who was very large and travelling very fast. After the initial impact I was thrown in the air and then travelled about 50 metres before another skier managed to stop me sliding by getting down in the snow and reaching for me. Slope was very icy at the time.

French man stopped and spoke to my instructor in French. A lady with him spoke to one of the other students. His right hand was bleeding (he didn't have gloves on) and he had a large contusion on his right forearm. I was in shock and initially had difficulty breathing, bad pain in my bottom, right shoulder/back and head (I was wearing a helmet otherwise wouldn't be here as hit my head very hard on the icy slope).

Ski instructor told me to try to stand up. I could stand, albeit with pain. He then told me to get on his shoulders, yes his shoulders. I refused and said I couldn't. He told me I had to as that was the only way to get my skis which had travelled some way further down the slope. I really didn't want to but he told me there was no other way.

I got on his shoulders (I don't know how) and closed my eyes as he skied down with me. I had difficulty getting my right leg into my skis, head spinning, awful pain everywhere. He told me to take aspirin at lunchtime (this was about 11.15 in the morning). Skied about 6 turns then re-grouped. He asked was I ok, I told him my head, bottom, and shoulder/back hurt and I was petrified of someone crashing into me. He told me to ski behind him. I skied about another 6 turns and then my right leg would not go where I wanted it to when trying to turn left and I had excruciating pain in my right thigh. I was heading off the piste so fell down as controlled as I could but managed to bang my face in ice. I lay there and just shouted "my leg is broken". Other students skiing behind me stopped to help, ski instructor climbed back up slope to me. My skis had not come off, so a fairly minor fall apart from a cut lip. I knew my leg was broken.

Ski instructor looked shocked when I told him my leg was broken and eventually he phoned for help. Doctor came and couldn't understand how I could have broken my leg from such a minor fall as skis had not released indicating it was a low impact fall. Ski instructor seemed reluctant to tell doctor that I had been involved in a serious collision a few minutes earlier.

Helicoptered to hospital in Thonon Les Bains where x rays showed my right femur was broken in numerous places both in the shaft and in the neck (hip). Had surgery immediately to put metal nails and screws in my thigh bone and my hip joint. Spent 10 days in hospital in Thonon and then a week in a clinic in the UK.

Six week x rays show no sign of fractures healing. Still not allowed to weight bear on bad leg.

Ski instructor admitted to one of the other students that he should not have made me ski again or given me a shoulder ride. I have been trying to get ESF Les Gets to send me an accident report but they are not responding to emails. It appears that instructor did not get the details of the man who crashed into me. in view of the fact that I was injured and in shock and crying was it not the ski instructors responsibility to get this information? Has anyone every heard of a ski instructor giving someone a shoulder ride down an icy red slope or any slope for that matter?

The woman who was with the man who crashed into me told one of the other students that a friend of theirs had died on a slope in Courchevel in February 2010. Anyone know how I could find out the identity of the dead man? It might be the only way I have of tracing the chap who crashed into me.

I had holiday insurance which paid for the helicopter to hospital and my plane journey back to the UK but doesn't cover loss of income, and all the other expenses I am now faced with. I can't drive so having to get taxis to physio (I live in a rural location and no public transport available).

I know there are people in this world far worse off, I do think of victims in Haiti who had similar injuries to mine and had no access to medical assistance but I can't help but feel angry at ESF. I have entrusted my children to them several years running... if one of my children had been injured would they simply have told me "your son was taken by helicopter to hospital" and that is the end of their involvement. Surely they have first aid training and should err on the side of caution when someone has been involved in a collision of that severity? I was in so much pain and shock that I was incapable of making decisions.

Sorry for the long post but if anyone has any ideas how I can move this matter forward I would be grateful. I may have to have more surgery to do bone grafts if fractures are still not showing signs of union at next visit with UK surgeon. Also have a 30 cm scar from hip to mid thigh and smaller scar above knee where screw was inserted. Not the holiday souvenir I was hoping for. On a plus side, the medical staff in Thonon were fantastic the hospital was very clean and my UK surgeon said that the French surgeon has done an excellent job at pinning the fractures, it was so complex and severe. Rant over, hope some of you have some ideas for me. Cheers, Edel

Your story is shocking and I really am sorry to hear the chain of events. As far as I am aware the ski instrucor must be accountable- that is certainly why I pay for lessons. Just in case. The ski instructors I always have had in Austria always carry their mobiles in case of accidents such as yours. I have seen many people air lifted off the mountain or skidooed down and taken to hospital if the injury is less serious. A helicopter is always called if you bang your head. Personally I would contact the ski school and name and shame the instructor in question - surely lessons must be learned. I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery

I'd break up that all of text!

Try and contact the resort directly. I'd imagine the ski patrol would have information.

Very sorry to hear of your experience. Does sound as if all kinds of normal procedures were not observed. I think you should find a lawyer who specialises in this kind of case.

It is always hard, especially if you don't think you are seriously hurt, to remember to get the other party's details. Broken bones, and other injuries are not always immediately apparent. I think that the Colorado law requiring all parties to give details to the Ski Patrol, or a resort employee before leaving the scene of a collision is a good thing, as it removes any embarrassment in asking the other party for ID.

MMMMmmm Les Gets I was thinking about going there ......... not any more :evil:

Ian Wickham wrote:MMMMmmm Les Gets I was thinking about going there ......... not any more :evil:

On the basis of an isolated incident that is a bit of a knee jerk reaction :lol:

Never using ESF again either?!

That is an awful story. I feel really sorry for you.

Surely this is a police matter? I thought it was up to the French police to trace people in these sort of cases? The ESF instructor should be able to give a description of the man.

And yes, I would sue ESF, because I am quite sure the instructor is also responsible.

Ally

What if the other party doesn't want to give you his or her details ( for obvious reasons )or there is a language barrier,I for one don't carry pad & pen when skiing.
As an instructor was in attendance he should have known the protocol regarding on piste accidents, also he should have sought medical help as he is not qualified to assess the injuries suffered.
To put a injured skier on your shoulders to retrieve your skis because you're not able to walk defies belief.
God only knows how you can pursue this now,but would definitely start with the ski school & instructor,cant see the police being of any help.

Anyway sorry to hear of you accident & wish you a speedy recovery, also good luck in getting some sort of compensation from this as you deserve it.