2 Skiers Killed in Utah Avalanche, 1 Rescued After Digging Himself Out: 'Tragic Accident'
"Our condolences go out to all those affected," the Utah Avalanche Center wrote in a statement
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter is pictured on May 9, 2024.Two skiers have died and a third has been rescued following an avalanche near Lone Peak, Utah.
On Thursday, May 9, the Utah Avalanche Center confirmed the two deaths in the mountains outside of Salt Lake City in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The non-profit organization said the third party member had been "transported off the mountain and taken to a local hospital for assessment."
"Recovery efforts have been suspended for the day and will resume in the morning," the statement continued.
Update | We are saddened to report two people died in today’s avalanche near Lone Peak. A third party member was transported off the mountain and taken to a local hospital for assessment. Recovery efforts have been suspended for the day and will resume in the morning. pic.twitter.com/9mvcXE5I9u
— UtahAvalancheCenter (@UACwasatch) May 9, 2024
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"The Utah Avalanche Center will continue to collect information and share more details when they become available. Our condolences go out to all those affected by today's tragic accident," the message concluded.
Per KUTV, the BBC, and CBS News, the victims were two men ages 23 and 32. According to KUTV, one of the men was a local while the other was visiting from another U.S. state.
The outlets added that rescue crews responded to reports that the skiers had got stuck in the avalanche near Little Cottonwood Canyon at around 10:30 a.m. local time. Around two hours later, a Life Flight helicopter was seen bringing one person off the mountain.
Isaac Hale/The Deseret News via AP
Emergency crews gather on May 9, 2024.Related: Mother and Son Skiers Die in Avalanche in the French Alps: ‘A Family Is Decimated’
The man was reportedly able to dig himself out of the avalanche before being rescued, per KUTV. He's said to be in a fair condition and is now being treated. Rescuers will continue the search for the two dead men on May 10.
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Several feet of heavy, wet snow had fallen in the area over the past few days, according to UAV forecaster Craig Gordon, per the BBC.
The Utah Avalanche Center's last listed avalanche fatality was in the town of Brighton on April 17, 2023.
The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, The Utah Avalanche Center, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.
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