Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
World-renowned mountain runner and cyclist Andrea Huser has died aged 46 after suffering a near 500-foot fall from a steep slope while trying to cross a stream during training.
The incident happened in the ski resort village of Saas-Fee located in Saastal, a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in the Swiss Alps on 28th November.
Andrea’s lifeless body was found by workers from the Saastal rescue station on Sunday at noon after she was reported missing to the Bern police the previous night.
On Sunday morning, the police conducted a helicopter search but could not locate the athlete at first.
According to the police investigation, the runner apparently slipped down a 140-metre (460-foot) slope while trying to cross an icy mountain stream.
Andrea’s association Prosport Sigriswil paid tribute to the popular athlete after the tragic accident.
A spokesperson said: “It’s just amazing what she’s done.
“She was very popular and an incredibly great woman.
“Despite her success, she was very reserved and never sought the limelight.”
Even though she had ended her professional career this summer, Andrea continued to nurture her love for the sport and was regularly spotted on the mountain tracks.
Andrea lived by her well known life-philosophy she has mentioned on multiple occasions: “Flat roads are forbidden, I need steep mountains and cool descents.”
In 2002, Andrea became European mountain bike champion, and in 2004 she took the fourth place at the world championships.
In 2012, she became involved in ultra mountain running and went on to claim some of the highest awards in the sport, among which was the bronze medal in the European Winter Triathlon Championship.
She won first place at the Ultra Trail World Tour in 2018.
Some of her other achievements over the years include winning the 101km Eiger Ultra Trail twice and taking the silver at the 170km Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc twice.
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