The following is a press release issued by Mount Washington Alpine Resort on the snowboarder fatality:
On the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, a 15-year-old male from Vancouver Island was snowboarding inbounds at Mount Washington when he was reported missing at approximately 4 p.m., according to the Resort’s Director of Business Operations, Don Sharpe.
Sharpe said the young man had been snowboarding on a designated blue run, when he separated from a family member.
After a routine search of the open ski terrain and base area, Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue were called in at 5 p.m.
More than 24 search members from Campbell River and the Comox Valley were onsite for the search alongside Mount Washington Ski Patrol.
The young man was located at approximately 11 p.m.
“He was found in a fairly open area, between the Retirement ski run and Linton’s Loop”, Sharpe said. “The conditions surrounding his death are still uncertain.”
As is customary, the BC coroner service and the RCMP are currently investigating. The name of the young man will not be released. (The Record has learned that the young man was a Victoria-area resident.)
“This is a very sad tragedy,” resort general manager Peter Gibson stated. “Everyone here at the Resort sends our sincerest condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. I would like to thank our dedicated staff and the exemplary search and rescue team for their assistance.”
–Mount Washington Alpine Resort