View of the Gem Lake express lift at Big White Ski Resort.
Image Credit: (SOURCE/Wikipedia)
January 09, 2013 - 3:27 PM
UPDATE: Jan. 10, 2013 - 9:09 a.m.
The B.C. Coroner's Service has confirmed the identity of the man who died at the Big White Ski Resort Jan. 8. He is Nickolas Voyer-Taylor, age 22, from Winnipeg. Voyer-Taylor was a seasonal employee and resident of the resort. He was out snowboarding and was found by other skiiers unconsious and partially submerged in water in a snow well. He died during resusitation efforts at Kelowna General Hospital.
Jan. 9, 2013 - 4:46 p.m.
It was a difficult day for people who work at the Big White Ski Resort, discovering one of their own died after suffering injuries out on the mountain.
A 22-year-old Winnipeg man, employee of Snowshoe Sams was snowboarding with friends in the Sapphire Glades area, just below Falcon Chair when the group became separated around 11:30 a.m. stated vice president of the resort, Michael Ballingall in an email to Infotel News.
"He was having the time of his life," says Ballingall about the young man's opportunity to work at the resort. "It's a tragedy that something like this should happen."
It appears the man fell and landed head first into an empty creek bed where he was found around 2:30 p.m. by others out on the mountain, says the email. Police say he was buried in snow and partially submerged by water. He sustained serious injuries and was suffering from hypothermia. The ski patrol was called and attended the scene immediately where they used CPR and a defibrillator.
The man was moved as soon as possible onto Village Way and a doctor took over before sending him by ambulance to Kelowna General Hospital. Efforts to revive the man were not successful.
His family has been notified and RCMP along with the B.C. Coroner's Service continue to investigate.
Big White Ski Resort wants to remind anyone who goes out on the mountian to ski with a buddy and to carry a whistle if skiing off groomed runs.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013