Snowboarder killed in New Zealand avalanche

A man from Queenstown, New Zealand was killed in an avalanche just outside Coronet Peak ski resort yesterday.

According to NZTV, Ryan Manu Campbell, 31, died after he was swept up by an avalanche that buried him in over two metres of snow.

The group triggered the avalanche at around 5pm on Sunday afternoon, Coronet Peak ski area manager, Hamish McCrostie said.

The report says the group was snowboarding around 1km from Coronet Ski resort’s boundary in a region called the Dirty Four, near Greengate chairlift.

Rescuers spent two hours digging Campbell out of the snow. He was given medical treatment before being airlifted to Lakes District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to reports the man did not have beacon on him.

Queenstown mountaineering instructor and avalanche expert Chris Prudden said the boarders were in an out-of-bounds area.

“Any time you’re on uncontrolled terrain out of bounds you’ve got to have the equipment, training and knowledge of snow stability. Without that, you’re just running the gauntlet and taking a real punt.”

Prudden says the man had not had a beacon on him.

Yesterday’s avalanche fatality follows the recent heli-skiing accident in the Southern Alps’ Rugged Range on July 24, which killed an Australian heli-skier and buried two others.

Posted by Brendon on August 3rd, 2009 in Avalanche and Coronet Peak and New Zealand

Brendon @cherrypow

Hi, I'm Brendon, editor and one of the co-founders of CherryPow. When work isn't calling I'm planning the next snow adventure and writing about it.