Maple Ridge man killed in avalanche

A snowmobiler from Maple Ridge was killed in an avalanche near the summit of Coquihalla Pass at noon Dec 29th 2010, the third snowmobiling death in B.C. that week.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said the 43-year-old man was among a group of 12 snowmobilers travelling along a trail northwest of Tulameen when he was struck.

Moskaluk said all of the group, which included the victim's father, were properly equipped with rescue recovery gear and were all wearing GPS locator beacons.

One member of the group headed to the Coquihalla toll booth area for cell coverage to summon help, while the remainder began searching for the buried man.

The machine was partially buried and the group used a beacon locator to extricate the buried man.

Efforts to revive their friend failed.

Mounties in Hope received the report and immediately began the search and recovery effort with help from Princeton RCMP. Search and rescue teams from Hope and Chilliwack mustered at the toll booth shortly after the call, and snow conditions were evaluated in a fly-over by an avalanche technician. It was decided a recovery of the man's body would not happen until the next day for safety reasons.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• avalanche
• snowmobiler
• british
• columbia
• canada

[CalculaterBoy784]

That was my dad and know im brokin