CALGARY -- The B.C. Coroner's Service is investigating after a skier and a snowboarder died after becoming trapped in tree wells in separate incidents in southeast B.C.
The first happened about 12:30 p.m. involving a snowboarder at Whitewater Ski Resort, near Nelson, B.C.
"A passerby, who made the discovery, immediately started CPR and called for support from ski patrol and emergency first responders," read a police release.
The victim, a man in his 30s from the Kootenays, was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The second incident happened about 4:30 p.m. Friday when a man was found unresponsive in a tree well at Fernie Alpine Resort.
"Initial reports indicate that the victim had been skiing with another person, when the two became separated," reads a police release.
"That person re-traced his run in search of his associate and made the discovery."
The victim, a man in his 30s originally from Quebec who was living in Fernie, was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
When first contacted by media, Fernie Alpine Resort would not confirm the death, calling it only an ‘incident.” But once RCMP released information about the skier killed, officials issued a statement.
“Our sincere thoughts and care to the individual’s family and all his friends," it read.
More than six metres of snow has fallen at Fernie Alpine Resort so far this season, including nearly a metre in the last seven days.
Whitewater Ski Resort had a base of 268 centimetres as of Monday.
