Stay Safe Out There. Image: Ski California

A snowboarder died via snow immersion suffocation in a tree well at Whitefish Mountain ski resort in Montana on Sunday.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office reports that the victim was 28-year-old Scott Robert Hornstra from Alberta, Canada.

Scott was found dead in a tree well early on Sunday morning.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Any death at our resort is an event that impacts the entire Whitefish Mountain Resort community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends as they cope during this difficult time. This accident is another unfortunate reminder that tree wells are an inherent risk of the sport. We encourage our guests to take extra caution when skiing in the trees and deep snow. Ski with a partner and keep them in sight. Call ski patrol immediately if someone is missing. Be as precise as you can in describing the trail name and location as well as the description of the missing person. We will continue to help our guests understand the risks and encourage educating themselves on this subject. An excellent resource for learning more about tree wells and deep snow safety is the website deepsnowsafety.org, which can be linked to from the Tree Well & Deep Snow Safety page of our website.” – Whitefish Mountain, MT on Sunday