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7 Bodies Found In Snow

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The Associated Press

Published: December 30, 2008

FERNIE, British Columbia - Search teams recovered the bodies of seven snowmobilers Monday, a day after they were swept away by avalanches in western Canada, police said. An eighth man is missing and believed dead.

The bodies were found as searchers plowed through avalanche debris near Fernie in British Columbia's Elk Valley, about 550 miles east of Vancouver, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Chris Faulkner said.

Eleven snowmobilers were hit by back-to-back avalanches Sunday. Eight were buried but three clawed through the snow and reached safety.
Search efforts - with several dozen rescue officials and volunteers as well as search dogs - had been delayed until later Monday by the threat of more avalanches.

"The snowmobilers were well-outfitted, dressed warmly and many had the proper safety equipment," Faulkner said.

The first avalanche buried seven snowmobilers resting at the foot of a hill, said David Wilks, mayor of Sparwood, a town of 4,000 that was home to all 11 men.

"It appears a cornice let loose - an overhang on the top of the mountain - and buried them," he said.

Another group of four snowmobilers heard their shouts, hurried over and had started digging when a second avalanche hit.

Two men dug themselves out and then pulled a third man free. Rescuers found them by their emergency communication devices.

"They're very distraught that they weren't able to stay and try and find or help their buddies, but ... one of them was injured and they felt there was an imminent risk of another avalanche," Wilks said. "They had lost their gloves, they had lost everything so they were starting to dig by hand."

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