Avalanche claims one life near Invermere…

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Sunday, April 16, 2023 | 2:45 pm

A snowmobiler has died following an avalanche on Saturday in southeastern BC…

Avalanche Canada says a party of 3 was snowmobiling in the Thunderwater Lake riding area, above Whirlpool Lake, when two of the riders triggered an avalanche near a rocky feature on the mountain slope.

One rider managed to escape the slide but the other did not and was buried in 2 meters of snow. The two uninjured riders then dug out the buried snowmobiler and began CPR while Search and Rescue was on the way to assist.

Upon arrival of emergency services to the incident site, the seriously injured rider was taken to Invermere by helicopter and pronounced deceased by BC Ambulance Service.

The avalanche was reported to be a storm slab over a crust. It occurred on an alpine feature above Whirlpool Lake and was 40-100 cm deep, 100 meters wide, and 300 m long.

Condolences goes out to the person’s family and friends during this very tragic time.

With information from Avalanche Canada