Paramedic from Ontario’s Perth County among local lives lost in Switzerland avalanche

Ontario paramedic Nicole (Nikky) Nagy is being remembered by her friends, family and co-workers as an extraordinary soul after she died April 1 while on snowboarding during her vacation in Switzerland with her boyfriend. 

Nagy’s father, George, confirmed the 25-year-old’s passing in a Facebook post on April 6. 

“Nicole was caught in an avalanche while snowboarding in Switzerland, alongside her boyfriend, and sadly, they did not survive,” reads the post. 

She grew up in Waterloo and celebrated her 25th birthday three days before her death on Easter Monday. 

“Her love for animals and nature was evident to all who knew her and her passion for mountain adventures was a defining aspect of her life,” says the Facebook post.

Worked as firefighter in Saskatchewan

Nagy worked as a seasonal firefighter in La Ronge, Sask., before joining Perth County Paramedic Services in 2022. 

“It is with profound sadness that we learned last week of the death of Nikky Nagy, primary-care paramedic with Perth County Services,” said Chief Mike Adair in an emailed statement to CBC News.

“The family requested we share this with you and to let you know that Nikky died while doing what she loved.”

Flags at the Perth County Courthouse and Perth County Paramedic Headquarters in Stratford will be lowered until the day of her funeral. 

“We are devastated by the loss of Nicole, and while nothing can fill the immense void in our hearts, we will forever cherish the memories we shared with her,” reads the post by Nagy’s dad. 

There is no word yet on the date of the funeral. 

According to local Switzerland police, three bodies were recovered — a male and a female, and a 15-year-old American boy. 

Missing soldier presumed dead

Nagy wasn’t the only local life lost in the avalanche. 

According to the Canadian military, Cambridge, Ont.-based soldier Capt. Sean Thomas is presumed dead after going missing in the avalanche. 

He was on leave in Riffelberg from Operation IMPACT, in the Middle East.

The military said Thomas joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2018 and had been deployed to Jordan last November. He was set to return home next month.

“Canadians will remember the dedication and sacrifices made by him and his family, as he proudly served our country,” National Defence Minister Bill Blair said in a statement.