Elk Valley RCMP is confirming that a woman snowboarder died on Sunday from injuries sustained in a fall when she entered a permanent closure area within the controlled ski area boundaries of the Fernie Alpine Resort tenure in Fernie. Her male companion suffered non-life threatening injuries.

At around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, Elk Valley RCMP received a report from the Fernie Alpine Resort that an adult female snowboarder, along with a male companion, had been involved in a serious snowboarding incident.

To date the investigation has determined that the 20 year-old Alberta woman was accompanied by an adult male, when the pair snowboarded into an area that was marked as being a permanently closed area within the controlled tenure of the resort.

The pair had entered into an area of cliff bands and was attempting to traverse what was described as an impassable cliff face when both fell. The woman fell approximately 130 metres, and sustained fatal injuries. Fernie Alpine Resort ski patrollers were alerted and attended the location and rescued the pair.

Patrollers attended to the unresponsive female and provided first aid, she was then transported to the Fernie Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The man sustained a broken arm in the fall.

Elk Valley RCMP is continuing to assist the BC Coroners Services investigation into the woman’s death.

Elk Valley RCMP

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