Skier dies after Canada avalanche injury

PEMBERTON, British Columbia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A backcountry skier died after being injured in an avalanche and trapped in the mountains overnight near Pemberton, British Columbia, officials said.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Peter Thiessen confirmed the skier was dead when rescue teams reached him early Friday, CBC News reported.

"I don't have a lot of detail at the moment, but I can confirm that unfortunately the avalanche has taken one life, the life of an adult male, but beyond that I can't provide too much information," Thiessen said.

The skier was injured when an avalanche swept through a group of four skiers Thursday afternoon.

The group was skiing through the backcountry, despite high avalanche warnings in place for alpine areas in recent days.

CBC News reported the injured skier was not buried but was unable to move. He waited on the mountain with another skier while the other two skied to get help.

Two aircraft from the Canadian Forces Base Comox were dispatched to rescue the remaining skiers but had to turn back because of poor weather conditions Thursday night, said John Millman of the Canadian Forces Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre Victoria.

The RCMP then organized a ground search-and-rescue team, but darkness and weather hampered their efforts.

The rescue team located the injured skier and his companion about 7 miles from the nearest road.