67-year-old skier dies after falling into snow well at B.C.'s Fernie Alpine Resort
Poor visibility may have played a role in the man's death, police say
A 67-year-old man has died after falling into a deep snow well at Fernie Alpine Resort in B.C.'s Kootenay region.
Elk Valley RCMP say the man was visiting family and skiing on Wednesday when he fell into a naturally occurring hole, about nine metres wide, at the base of the ski lift.
Mounties say there was poor visibility on the hill at the time and that the man was taken to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Fernie Alpine Resort confirmed in a statement to CBC News that a guest found the man unresponsive and called ski patrol.
A statement from RCMP says the six-by-nine-metre trap was under one of the lift towers of the Polar Peak ski lift and was filled with loose undisturbed snow.
Police say "tremendous efforts" by the ski patrol and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were made to keep the man alive, including the use of a defibrillator.
Poor visibility at the time may have played a role in the man's death, and police say their officers and the coroner are investigating.
Fernie Alpine Resort says it "extends deep thoughts of care, support and condolences to family and friends and people in the community."
With files from Corey Bullock and the Canadian Press