Lewis Ainsworth is seen in this undated handout photo provided by his family. Ainsworth, the president of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, has died of his injuries after a Jan. 22, 2024, helicopter crash near Terrace, B.C.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, Ainsworth family
January 29, 2024 - 2:30 PM
A New Zealand mountaineering expert injured in the heli-skiing crash north of Terrace last week has died, bringing the death toll to four.
The New Zealand Mountain Guides Association says In a Facebook post that its president, Lewis Ainsworth, had been on the Northern Escape Heli-Skiing helicopter as a guide.
Ainsworth's mother, Marney Ainsworth, also said in a Facebook posting over the weekend that he would not survive his injuries, and on Monday posted a video tribute to her son.
She said she was "humbled and so very proud" to hear how highly her son was regarded by mountaineering colleagues.
On Monday, RCMP confirmed the fourth death from the crash.
The three other passengers who were rescued remain in stable condition, police said in a news release.
A spokeswoman for Northern Escape said they would issue a statement soon.
Northern Escape president John Forrest said Sunday that the bodies of the three people who died immediately after the crash had been recovered from the crash site.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said members of the Terrace Search and Rescue were able to get back to the site on the weekend.
"Poor weather and visibility conditions severely impacted efforts to safely return to the crash site over several days," Clark said.
He said the Mounties are supporting the ongoing investigations by the BC Coroners Service, the Transportation Safety Board and WorkSafeBC, the provincial worker safety agency.
The Italian news agency ANSA has previously reported that three Italians died in the Jan. 22 crash.
The Facebook post from the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association says Ainsworth was internationally recognized in the mountaineering community and was 35 at the time of his death.
"He is loved by many and will be dearly missed by all those who have been fortunate enough to know Lewis and have shared in his passion for being in the mountains," it says.
It says he is survived by his partner and their 10-year-old daughter.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2024.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2024