A 15-year-old skier has died at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, on Saturday, February 28, after being buried by a massive avalanche at Nakiska Ski Area on Friday, February 27. According to Avalanche Canada, the pair triggered the avalanche while bootpacking up a slope.
According to the Cochrane Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP), an emergency call was received on Friday at 12:49 p.m.for two missing skiers after an avalanche struck. One teenager skier was able to free himself, however, the second teenage skier was not initially located, the Cochrane RCMP said. “Multiple resources were deployed to the scene, and the second skier was located unresponsive,” Cochrane RCMP said. “He was taken by EMS to a Calgary hospital, however, the 15-year-old Calgary resident died early this morning.”
The Alberta Alpine Ski Association later confirmed that the two teenagers involved were two of its athletes. “We are deeply saddened to share that two of our athletes were involved in an avalanche incident on February 27 at Nakiska Ski Area.” Nakiska Ski Area is a popular training ground for alpine skiers and is home to the Nakiska Alpine Ski Association, which has five associated ski clubs that offer ski racing programs in Nakiska for ages 5 and up. “We are heartbroken and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss of life,” the Alberta Alpine Ski Association added, “and we extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family as they navigate this unimaginable grief.” The statement goes on to share that the entire community is shaken by this event and also goes on to thank the rescue teams, coaches, and volunteers whose rapid response, professionalism, and dedication were critical in this situation.
The national body, Alpine Canada, also shared a public statement on social media channels, stating that the association is “devastated to learn that one of those young athletes has passed away.”
The deceased skier was identified by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) as Emilio Hrazdira, a student at Queen Elizabeth High School in the city’s northwest.
According to a statement by Rabbit Hill Ski Club, the pair decided to freeski after the cancellation of a Super-G race at Nakiska due to 15-20 centimeters (6-8 inches) of fresh snowfall. The two boys were skiing inbounds and were not doing anything reckless, the ski club emphasized.
Nakiska Ski Area is located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Calgary in the Kananaskis Country. Avalanche danger in the area was rated at Level 3 out of 5 “considerable” for the area. Avalanche Canada advised on Thursday, February 26, that the snowpack conditions were dangerous in many forecast regions. According to Avalanche Canada, the avalanche was a wind slab avalanche that struck at 2,250 meters (7,382 feet).
Saturday’s death takes the total number of avalanche-related fatalities in Canada to five. Four of the deaths occurred in the last two weeks.
