A 35-year-old skier buried by an avalanche was rescued on Sunday.
At around 2:30 p.m., Penticton and District Search and Rescue (PENSAR) was called after the man was buried in snow east of Apex Mountain Resort.
A group of four backcountry skiers was able to successfully rescue their partner.
PENSAR said it was fortunate the ski group had an emergency beacon and good cell service.
With daylight hours fading away, a small rescue team from Apex ski patrol was airlifted into the area. They where they were able to locate the group and rescue the injured subject via helicopter.
The man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fourteen PENSAR members were activated, along with members of Osoyoos and Oliver Search and Rescue, according to Search and Rescue Manager Dale Jorgensen. Princeton Search and Rescue was on standby.
“In this case, although the event was outside of the Apex Ski Resort, we (PENSAR) co-ordinated the emergency response with Apex Ski Resort personnel and a member of the ministry of transportation, who is an avalanche technician, who was also on site to assist in the evacuation,” Jorgensen said.
SAR Teams advised that avalanche risks in the backcountry are high and that travellers need to be prepared and plan for any emergency.
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