B.C. heli-ski guide dies in crevasse fall
CBC News
Posted: May 2, 2011 3:25 PM CT
Last Updated: May 2, 2011 11:38 PM CT
RCMP in northern B.C., are trying to recover the body of an Austrian heli-skiing guide who was killed Sunday after falling into a crevasse.
The guide, who was working for a B.C. heli-ski outfitter near Atlin, was leading a group of four skiers on the Swanson Glacier near the B.C.-Yukon border.
He had stopped to take a photo when the snow beneath him gave way, and he plunged into a 35-meter deep crevasse, said police.
The group of skiers the guide was leading was taken off the glacier by helicopter while another guide with the operation stayed behind to help assist rescuers.
The second guide was able to conduct a descent into the crevasse to assess the conditions and confirmed the man had suffered fatal injuries in the fall. He determined the crevasse was only 1.5 m wide with ice overhangs making it difficult to recover the body.
"Given the technical level of recovery that the situation posed, the Atlin Search and Rescue team coordinated the recovery effort with the Parks Canada Kluane National Park Ice Rescue Team," said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
"The Parks Canada ice rescue technicians were on route to the scene via helicopter, when developing poor weather conditions forced them to turn around," he said.
"The recovery of the man's body has been delayed by several days due to the current weather conditions and the expected long term forecast," he said.
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