05:12

Ruth Deutschmann

Benjamin Epp

Galtür

2008-08-22

Sylvia Manning-Baumgartner

Nicole D´Incecco

1999

We had a good life until 1999. My wife was also killed by the avalanche. My son Gottlieb is my successor at the alpine hut. His house is in the section of the village behind the church. He was snowed in at the hut and couldn't get out. His wife was here, alone,so my wife went to see her in the afternoonto distract her a bit and talk to her. And then – both women died in the avalanche. My daughter Maria-Luise and I accompanied my wife to our daughter-in-law's house. We returned to our house and had arranged to pick her up in the evening. But that wasn't necessary anymore. The avalanche came down at four in the afternoon. The sirens and all the confusion were frightening. There was a snow storm and when we got to the house, or what was left of it, we had to shovel the snow away. It was like a race to save the women's lives. If you do something in that kind of situation you do everything with - composure Otherwise you'd have to run away. But you can't do that. If you're at the site of an accident you have to stay and help. For me time stopped that day when we broke through and found my wife and she was dead. And then - there were many dark days. Then, I think three weeks later, we were going home after Sunday mass. It was a beautiful April morning, the landscape snow white and magnificent sunshine. I had been to church with my granddaughter, my youngest son's daughter. She went home with me. I said to her: "Well," - her name is Vanessa. "Vanessa, today is a lovely day. The sun is shining beautifully." Then she looked up at me and said: "Right, Nene", - Nene is grandfather - "Right, Nene, there where Nona" - that is grandmother; my wife and Edith my daughter-in-law, Gottlieb's wife. "Right, Nene, there where Nona and Edith are now the sun is always shining." From that day on the sun has shone for me again a bit more.