Deadly avalanche near Sparwood

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SPARWOOD (NEWS1130) – One person is dead and at least four are in hospital after two separate slides in southeastern BC.

The death happened near Sparwood Friday, the same day an avalanche warning was issued for much of the province.

Coroner Barb McLintock says a group was caught in a slide near the Alberta border.

“Our understanding is that search and rescue got a call from a satellite phone from a group that was out about 30 kilometres southeast of Sparwood. They had been caught in an avalanche. At least one injured had been dug out at that point, and one is deceased.”

The BC Ambulance Service says three other people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Earlier on Friday an area near Fernie was also hit by an avalanche, leaving one skier with a broken leg.

Fernie Search and Rescue‘s Scott Robinson says they were called around 3 p.m.

“Due to the location of the subject, it was a very difficult job to get him out of that area to an area where a helicopter could pick him up. By the time that was achieved, we had lost the daylight,” Robinson tells News1130. The rescuers had tents with them and had to spend the night on the mountain.

“Fortunately this morning the weather was kind for us and we were able to evacuate the subject by helicopter and drop him off at 7 a.m.,” he adds.

The Canadian Avalanche Association is warning of a high risk of slides across most of the southern half of the province.

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