American skier caught in B.C. avalanche dies

American skier caught in B.C. avalanche dies

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Story Published: Jan 11, 2009 at 9:49 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 12, 2009 at 8:17 AM PDT

By Associated Press

TERRACE, British Columbia (AP) - Deadly avalanche conditions in British Columbia have claimed yet another victim after a U.S. snowboarder who was caught in a slide died in a hospital.

The 39-year-old man, who was visiting from Cincinnati, was caught in an avalanche Thursday on Alice Mountain near Terrace, B.C. Police said in a news release Saturday that the man died at a hospital in Washington state.

The snowboarder, whose name wasn't released, was in a group of four people, including his son, who were dropped on the mountain by helicopter.

At least three avalanches swept down the slope, burying the man and partially covering his son, who was able to free himself.

The man was beneath the snow for about 10 minutes before he was rescued by other groups of skiers and boarders who were on the mountain.

The man's death brings to 11 the number of people killed by avalanches in B.C. in the past two weeks.

Two people died in separate avalanches at the Whistler Blackcomb resort on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Both of those slides occurred in areas marked out of bounds.

And on Dec. 28, eight snowmobilers were killed while riding in the backcountry near Fernie, in the southwestern part of the province.

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