A Swedish skier who went out of bounds at RMR was very lucky to be alive Tuesday after he plunged through a snow cornice above Greely Bowl and fell about 100 feet, landing on a ledge.
“This is just another example of why people should not go out of bounds,” RCMP Corp. Rod Wiebe said in a statement issued some hours after the mishap. “A small ledge is all that kept this incident a rescue rather than a recovery.”
Wally Mohn of Revelstoke Search and Rescue said the man, a 31-year-old from Sweden, stepped onto a cornice and “drilled right through it.”
“He’s very lucky,” Mohn said. “He fell about 100 feet and landed on a ledge.”
Mohn said RMR called Search and Rescue because there was no way they could reach the man.
RMR Media and Marketing Manager Ashley Tait said SAR led the rescue and RMR Pro Patroller Shannon Warner was lowered on a long-line to retrieve the skier from the ledge. He was transported by a chopper from Selkirk Helicopters with back and rib injuries to Queen Victoria Hospital. (You can see images from the rescue below.)
Wiebe said the incident came on the heels of a snowboarder who was reported missing Monday at 5 pm. The boarder managed to walk himself out and off the mountain, returning home at 1:45 am.
“As the numbers increase it is only a matter of time before the outcome will be a tragic one,” Wiebe said. “Police are encouraging all users of the resort to stay in bounds and stay safe.”
Here are photos of the rescue:
