Snowboarder dies at Whistler-Blackcomb

Tragedy has struck Whistler-Blackcomb on it’s first weekend open this season.

Whistler-Blackcomb has confirmed that a 27 year old male snowboarder was found unconscious and unresponsive near Arthur’s Choice, a gladed area on Blackcomb Mountain on Saturday.

In a statement, Whistler RCMP say the adult male was snowboarding in the area with his girlfriend who was skiing when they became separated. The man’s girlfriend reported him missing to Ski Patrol and a search was initiated. Members of the public located the missing man unresponsive in deep unconsolidated snow. They were able to pull him out and began CPR. Ski Patrol, paramedics and a mountain doctor attempted to resuscitate the man however efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced deceased on scene.

Whistler-Blackcomb says that the first Blackcomb Ski Patrol arrived on the scene and took over CPR from members of the public at 12:15pm. A support team followed equipped with an AED defibrillator but at 1:17pm the snowboarder was pronounced deceased. Whistler RCMP is currently investigating.

The RCMP urges skiers and snowboarders to exercise caution while recreating, particularly in this early part of the season, and be aware that hazards exist inside and outside the ski area boundary.