B.C.: Alberta Snowmobiler dead from avalanche near Valemount
by The Canadian Parvasi
A snowmobiler from Alberta died after being stuck in an avalanche south of Valemount, British Columbia, stated Avalanche Canada and the RCMP.
The man, alongside another person, was in Bowl 3 in the Allen Oasis Recreation Area, a managed snowmobiling riding area east of Central B.C., according to Avalanche Canada.
The deceased was accompanied by the driver of the snowmobile. The driver managed to escape the avalanche in time and consequently, notified authorities and helped locate the buried individual, who was found unresponsive. The passenger succumbed to his injuries.
The RCMP responded to the incident alongside local search and rescue volunteers after receiving a call at 11:20 a.m. PT on Saturday. The RCMP, however, failed to recover the body as the snow was too dangerous.
Authorities hoped to recover the body on Sunday.
Cpl. Alex Bérubé with the RCMP stated on the incident, “The driver was luckily not affected by the avalanche in itself and tried to conduct resuscitating efforts on the passenger. However, the passenger succumbed to his injuries.”
B.C. Coroner’s Service has since been notified of the incident and will take over the investigation, Bérubé added.
Avalance Canada, earlier in January, had cautioned that British Columbia’s snowpack this year is unusually weak and could be prone to avalanches.