Tragedy in Biri: 15-Year-Old Dies in Sledging Accident

Biri, Gjøvik – The community of Biri is in mourning following the death of a 15-year-old boy in a sledging accident on Friday, February 20, 2026. The accident occurred during a school sledding day, just before the start of the winter holidays.

Shock and Grief in Biri

Provost Ole Jacob Nyhus, acting as provost and a member of the psychosocial crisis team in Gjøvik municipality, described the death as “just tragic and senseless.” He emphasized the profound impact of the loss on the entire Biri community and the boy’s school. “It was supposed to be a nice sledding day and end before the winter holidays and it as well ends up like that. It is absolutely horrible,” Nyhus stated.

Emergency services responded to a report of a lifeless person on a toboggan run at 1:29 PM. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, the boy could not be revived.

Church Offers Support and Community Space

Biri church was opened at 4:30 PM on Friday to provide a space for those seeking comfort and support. According to Nyhus, people began arriving immediately. The church remains open for anyone needing a place to gather and access support from the municipality’s crisis team.

“The vast majority of people at Biri know each other, so the church is a good room to be in, a good place to sit and be quiet together, but we have also talked,” Nyhus explained. “There are many people who need to talk together too.”

Nyhus noted that several individuals who knew the deceased also remembered a previous tragedy in Biri, the death of a teenager in a go-kart accident a year and a half ago.

Community and Municipal Response

Anne Bjertnæs, the Mayor of Gjøvik municipality, described the Biri community as closely knit and resilient. “We are there for each other when crises occur,” she said, adding that the municipality’s psychosocial team was quickly mobilized to assist those affected, including students and staff at the boy’s school.

“It is the most cruel message you can receive. I’m a mother myself, so you feel it deep in a mother’s heart,” the mayor added.

Police Investigation

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. Police attorney Hildegunn Tronsli stated that everything indicates a “very tragic accident.” Authorities are using a drone to gather an overview of the scene and are interviewing witnesses. Those who witnessed the incident are receiving support from the municipal crisis team.

Contact Information

For those seeking support, the following contacts are available:

• Ole Jacob Nyhus (Sokneprest): 928 10 807
• Gjøvik Municipality Psychosocial Crisis Team: 45876201