King Charles recalls 1988 avalanche that claimed a friend and reshaped his view of mortality
The monarch reflected on a 1988 Swiss avalanche that killed Major Hugh Lindsay, injured Patti Palmer-Tomkinson and left him with a heightened sense of life's fragility.
At a celebration for the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team’s 50th anniversary held at the Castle of Mey, King Charles spoke about the March 10, 1988 avalanche in the Swiss Alps that killed Major Hugh Lindsay, an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II, and left Patti Palmer-Tomkinson with serious leg injuries. The royal party, including Charles, was skiing off-piste above Klosters when the slide struck, sending Lindsay down the slope and burying Palmer-Tomkinson.
Charles and others escaped, then assisted the rescue effort, with guide Bruno Sprecher reviving Palmer-Tomkinson and handing Charles a shovel to help dig her out. Experts noted that the experience deepened the king’s perception of mortality and the importance of mountain rescue work. Commentators highlighted the constitutional ripple effect had Charles not survived, which would have thrust a five-year-old Prince William into the line of succession.
Why it matters
The story shows how a near-fatal accident shaped the current monarch’s perspective and underscores the role of rescue services.
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