B.C. Coroners to investigate death of skier, snowboarder in separate incidents
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2020 20:43:28 +0000
The B.C. RCMP and the coroners service are investigating after a skier and a snowboarder died in separate incidents.
In the first incident, a snowboarder was found in medical distress at the Whitewater Ski Resort outside Nelson at about 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said the snowboarder, a Central Kootenay resident in his 30s, was found in a tree well in an out-of-bounds area. A passerby spotted the man and attempted CPR before ski patrollers arrived to transport the man down the mountain.
“The patient was transported to a secondary location within the resort, where emergency medical responders took over CPR,” said O’Donaghey. “Despite all their efforts, the man was pronounced deceased by emergency paramedics.”
The second death took place just hours later after 4:30 p.m. the same day.
Elk Valley RCMP said it happened at Fernie Alpine Resort after a skier was separated from his friend on the mountain and later found by his friend, unresponsive in a wooded area.
“He immediately called for support from the Fernie Alpine Resort’s ski patrol, who responded to the scene,” said O’Donaghey.
“The patient was transported off the mountain by ski patrollers, and to a local hospital by B.C. Emergency Health Services. Sadly, despite the efforts of all involved, the skier was later pronounced deceased in hospital.”
The man was identified as a 30-something-year-old Fernie resident originally from Quebec.
Police are not releasing the names of the victims. The B.C. Coroners Service and police continue to investigate.