Man dies after falling into tree well on Whistler Mountain

A 63-year-old man has died in a tree-well incident while skiing on Whistler Mountain Saturday, according to the resort.

Whistler Blackcomb said ski patrol crews were called out after the man fell head first into a tree well at around 11:15 a.m. near Ratfink run.

Emergency crews and a mountain doctor responded to the scene while members of the public administered CPR.

Resuscitation attempts continued as the male was transported down the mountain to an ambulance.

He was taken to the Whistler Health Care Centre where he was pronounced dead.

Whistler Blackcomb is warning skiers and snowboarders to ski and ride with care and travel with a partner, as tree wells can occur within and outside the ski area boundary.

Tree wells are holes or depressions that form around the base of a tree while snow accumulates.

According to Whistler Blackcomb, a tree-well incident is when a person becomes immobilized after falling head-first into the depression.

The resort suggests staying close to a skiing partner at all times so if someone falls into a tree well they can be pulled or dug out.