Industry News
According to the RCMP, a 26-year-old snowboarder died at Whistler, BC, yesterday after falling 65-feet off a cliff.
Police and paramedics were called in Thursday morning after reports that a man had “fallen off an edge at the top of the Whistler portion of Whistler Blackcomb.”
“Throughout the investigation, in conjunction with Whistler Blackcomb ski patrol, staff, and the BC Coroners Service it was determined that the man was in the Whistler alpine at the top of the Peak chair when he fell approximately 20 meters off a cliff.”
The snowboarder was on Whistler Mountain at the top of the Peak Chairlift. Ski patrollers responded to the accident and provided emergency care. The man, later identified as Jesse Van Roon, sustained serious injuries and was transported by helicopter to the Whistler Health Care Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The man was a Whistler local and was snowboarding with a friend in the alpine area, which is meant for experienced riders, reported Sgt. Sascha Banks with Squamish RCMP. A GoFundMe has been set up to support his family and assist with funeral costs.
“He had the experience to be up there, but it was just an unfortunate event. As we have seen in the past few weeks unfortunate incidents can happen to the most experienced adventures…please take that extra moment, that extra check of your surroundings and ensure you have all your safety equipment.”
– Sgt. Sascha Banks, Squamish RCMP
This is the fourth fatality in the Sea-to-Sky in the last two weeks. Two snow bikers were killed in an avalanche in Pemberton on December 29. On New Year’s Eve, a skier died after falling into a tree well in the Whistler backcountry.
