Australian boarder killed at Whistler Mountain
By Contributor
A 24-year-old snowboarder visiting from Australia has been killed while boarding at Whistler Mountain Thursday.
The accident happened at 11:50 a.m. when Whistler Ski Patrol contacted Whistler RCMP to advise of a serious injury.
The snowboarder fell in a steep treed area and suffered head trauma.
Ski Patrol attended to the scene and located the injured male. It appears that he and a woman found themselves in steeper terrain than they were able to handle and removed their snowboards in an attempt to walk down the steep slope.
The male slipped, slid down the slope and impacted with some trees. A doctor on the mountain attended the scene to provide advanced life support.
The man was taken by helicopter from the mountain and flown to the Whistler Health Care Center.
He was subsequently transferred to a hospital in Vancouver and shortly after 7 p.m., succumbed to his injuries.
This tragic incident is a reminder that hazards exist within and outside the ski area boundary. Skiers and riders are urged to exercise caution when on the mountain to have a safe, enjoyable experience.
