Ten years ago, Prince Johan Friso was buried by an avalanche while skiing. A tragic find near the scene of the accident is now reopening old wounds.
Lech – On February 17, 2012, the terrible accident happened that would change the lives of the Dutch royals forever. Prince Johan Friso (44, † 2013) was buried by an avalanche while skiing in Lech am Arlberg, Austria. A year and a half later, Mabel Wisse Smit’s husband (53) succumbed to his injuries. An extraordinary discovery is now bringing back the painful memories*.
Prince Johan Friso: His widow Mabel is again confronted with the accident
Prince Johan Friso* was taken from life far too early at the age of 44. After being buried by an avalanche while skiing, it took 20 minutes for him to be freed from the masses of snow. The damage to his brain was already irreversible at this point. After further attempts at treatment, the brother of King Willem-Alexander* (54) finally died in August 2013 at Huis ten Bosch Castle*. Friso is survived by his wife Mabel and two daughters, Luana (16) and Zaria (15).
Ten years after the avalanche accident, a dramatic find is now making headlines, which is likely to make things difficult for Princess Beatrix* (84) and Mabel Wisse Smit*.
Prince Johan Friso: return of the unlucky skis to the royal family?
As reported by the Dutch broadcaster NOS, a ski worn by Prince Johan Friso in his accident was discovered near the scene of the accident – two years ago! Friso’s friend Florian Moosbrugger pointed out to the finder, Michael Manhart, what the find was all about. Manhart initially left the ski behind – “I thought it belonged in this place,” explained the ski lift manager, who is well-known beyond the borders of Lech, to AD. However, when he later found out that local residents had simply taken the board away, he felt compelled to act. “I told them, ‘It’s not a souvenir, just give it to me,'” Manhart said.
Now he wants to give it back to the Ski Friso’s relatives the next time they come to Lech for their traditional winter holiday. “I will tell your bodyguards that I have found the ski and want to give it to Friso’s next of kin,” NOS quoted the Austrian as saying. If the royal family doesn’t accept it, he wants to destroy it: “I don’t think it’s an object that you could put in a glass case.”
How the Dutch palace* reacted to the find is not yet known. *24royal.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
Picture list: © ANP / Imago
