Police advise backcountry enthusiasts to use caution following Sunday avalanche near Kootenay Pass
By Nelson Daily Staff
Local Search and Rescue have retrieved the body of a 27-year-old male involved in an avalanche Sunday at in the Lightening Strike Ski area near the Kootenay Pass summit of Highway 3.
The man, believed from Nelson, was killed after getting caught up in an avalanche Sunday around 1 p.m.
Salmo RCMP and Search and Rescue were dispatched to the top of the Kootenay Pass, as four skiers were skiing in the Lightening Strike Ski area and two of the skiers got caught in an avalanche.
A 27-year-old female and a 27-year-old male suffered severe injury as a result of being caught in the avalanche.
The 27-year-old female was removed from the scene overnight by search and rescue and transported to the Trail Regional Hospital with serious injuries where she remains.
The body of the male was removed from the mountain Monday after Search and Rescue was able to secure the area. A helicopter was used to assist Search and Rescue in the recovery.
The body of the man was transported to Trail hospital where the BC Coroners Service is investigating.
All four skiers are from the Nelson area.
As the avalanche risk is very high in this area, police are advising to stay out of the backcountry.
See previous story.
