Search-and-rescue crew braves avalanche conditions to pluck injured skier from North Shore
Global News
The rescue comes amid warnings of significant avalanche risk in backcountry areas across the province, and a day after three German tourists were killed in a slide in eastern B.C.
Search-and-rescue were called to brave dangerous avalanche conditions Thursday as they rescued an injured backcountry skier near Cypress Mountain.
Barry Mason with North Shore Rescue said the skier got stuck in a treed area with a suspected fracture to their femur.
Crews deployed by helicopter, but had to have a member certified in level-two avalanche site safety on hand as well.
“We had to fly in there and assess the terrain and the (avalanche) hazard. We assessed we could only put two people in, package quickly and get out as fast as possible, minimize the number of people exposed,” Mason said.
“We got lucky with the weather and managed to get them out before the clouds socked in.”
The rescue comes as experts warn of significant avalanche risk in backcountry areas across the province.
On Wednesday, three German tourists were killed in a slide near Invermere during a heli-skiing tour.
That tragedy brought the number of avalanche fatalities in B.C. this year to 12, making it the second deadliest year in the last decade.