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Avalanche kills backcountry skier

Fifty-two-year-old Austrian man dead after being caught in an avalanche while skiing north of Revelstoke
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Revelstoke RCMP report a 52-year-old Austrian man died after being caught in an avalanche while skiing north of Revelstoke.

An 52-year-old man is dead after being caught in an avalanche while skiing near Revelstoke.

Staff Sgt. Kurt Grabinsky with the Revelstoke RCMP said police received a report at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 6, of an injured male who had been caught in an avalanche.

Grabinsky said a group of five skiers, accompanied by a guide, were skiing down a mountain in intervals near Goldstream, approximately 100 kilometres north of Revelstoke.

“The guide and another male had proceeded, and when the third male began skiing, the avalanche was triggered,” said Grabinsky. “The remaining two skiers managed to avoid the avalanche.”

Grabinsky said the deceased, a resident of Austria, was in cardiac arrest while being transported to Queen Victoria Hospital (via the Revelstoke airport and BC Ambulance Service).

The name of the deceased is being withheld until family members are notified of his death.

Grabinsky said RCMP have ruled out foul play and are assisting the BC Coroners Service with their investigation into the cause of death.

Avalanche Canada’s danger rating for the North Columbia region is currently at “considerable” for alpine and treeline areas. This means avalanche conditions are dangerous, and natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely.