Ross Milne

Ross Milne (born October 3, 1944 in Myrtleford , † January 25, 1964 in Innsbruck ) was an Australian ski racer.

Milne grew up as the son of a farmer in Myrtleford . At the age of 15 he started at the Australian Ski Championships for the first time. As a member of the national ski team in his country, he took part in training runs in 1964, which took place a few days before the opening of the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck . While driving on the downhill piste on Patscherkofel , Milne fell and crashed into a tree off the piste. In doing so, he sustained such serious injuries that despite his immediate transfer to the Innsbruck University Hospital, only his death could be determined. At the autopsy, a tear in the aorta was named as the cause of death.

An investigation by the organizing committee came to the conclusion that Milne had tilted during his run and was thus off the piste. The Australian team manager John Wagner blamed the lack of barriers on the race track and poor organization of the training process for the accident. Before the fall, Milne is said to have tried to avoid other racers who were on this steep section for inspection on this steep section, which the driver only saw late.

Milne's younger brother, Malcolm Milne, was also a successful ski racer.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The forgotten Story of ... Ross Milne. The Guardian , Jan. 22, 2014.