Two skiers dead and one rescued in Utah avalanche
An avalanche in the mountains outside Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday resulted in the deaths of two skiers, while another was rescued by helicopter near Lone Peak, an area recently hit by over 30 inches (76 cm) of snow.
The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) confirmed the fatalities, stating that harsh conditions prevented immediate recovery of the bodies.
Fatal avalanches are uncommon at this time of year, according to the UAC. The deaths were announced Thursday afternoon following extensive rescue efforts.
Officials, using helicopters, verified the fatalities at the accident site in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Avalanche “mitigation” work will be conducted to ensure the safety of rescue operations, as reported by CBS affiliate KUTV.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera disclosed that the rescued skier managed to extricate himself from the avalanche and was hospitalized; he likely initiated the rescue efforts by contacting authorities.
The identities of the deceased, aged 23 and 32, were withheld, with one being a local resident and the other a visitor from out of state.
According to UAV forecaster Craig Gordon, heavy, wet snowfall over the past three days in the mountainous area contributed to the incident, which occurred in challenging terrain necessitating significant skiing expertise from the group involved.
According to the UAC, no other avalanche-related deaths have happened this late in the spring season.
