Snowboarder and skier die in separate incidents

Separate incidents at two B.C. ski hills have claimed two lives.

A snowboarder has died after an incident at Whitewater Ski Resort near Nelson.

A man in his 30’s from the Central Kootenays was found unresponsive in a tree well in an out-of-bounds area of the resort by a passerby Friday afternoon (Jan.17).

A passerby, who made the discovery, started CPR and called for support from ski patrol and emergency first responders.

“The patient was transported to secondary location within the resort, where emergency medical responders took over CPR,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, media relations officer for the RCMP Southeast District. “Despite all their efforts, the man was pronounced deceased by emergency paramedics.”

Meantime, a skier died after being found unresponsive at the Fernie Ski Hill on Friday (Jan. 17).

He had been skiing with another person but they became separated.

The other skier re-traced his run in search of his associate and made the discovery.

“He immediately called for support from the Fernie Alpine Resort’s ski patrol, who responded to the scene,” stated O’Donaghey. “The patient was transported off the mountain by ski patrollers, and to a local hospital by BC Emergency Health Services. Sadly, despite the efforts of all involved, the skier was later pronounced deceased in hospital.”

The victim was a Fernie man in his 30’s, originally from Quebec.

The B.C. Coroner’s Service is investigating both incidents.