Australian man dies in snowmobile accident near Whistler
By Nelson Daily Staff
RCMP confirms a man from Australia died New Year’s Day in a snowmobile accident that had occurred on Blackcomb Mountain near Whistler.
Whistler/Pemberton RCMP Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair said in a media release police were alerted at approximately 11:30 p.m. of the accident.
“A group of people were participating in a guided snowmobile tour and were descending Blackcomb Mountain,” LeClair said.
“One of the snowmobiles was operated by a 65-year-old Australian male with a 54-year-old Australian female passenger.
“This snowmobile was directly behind the tour guide who was leading the group down the mountain.
“The snowmobile operated by the 65-year-old Australian male didn’t negotiate a slight right hand turn and went over an embankment to the left of the groomed snowmobile trail.”
LeClair said the male driver of the snowmobile was found to be in cardiac arrest and the tour guide commenced CPR.
The female passenger of the snowmobile suffered serious injuries in this incident.
Both were transported to hospital however the male did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the Whistler Health Care Center.
