Seattle Man Dies After Getting Buried within the Snow on Oregon Mountain

A Seattle man has died after he was discovered buried within the snow on the aspect of a mountain at a ski resort in Oregon, authorities mentioned.

Benjamin Shelkey, 34, was found unresponsive on the west aspect of Mount Bachelor on the afternoon of Monday, March 17, in accordance with a press launch from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Workplace. He was discovered buried headfirst in a tree nicely, The Seattle Instances added. 

He later died of his accidents after he was transported for medical care, in accordance with the sheriff’s workplace. Whereas the reason for Shelkey’s demise has not been decided, “the circumstances are in line with snow immersion suffocation,” the division mentioned.

The Deschutes County Medical Examiner’s Workplace declined to remark as a result of ongoing investigation and the privateness of the household.

Lieutenant Nathan Garibay, Particular Providers and SAR Coordinator, advised PEOPLE in an announcement that when “any person skis right into a tree nicely, they’ll discover themselves in a state of affairs the place they can’t rescue themselves.” If the person turns into inverted when caught within the tree nicely, it “would result in probably a snow suffocation,” per authorities.

“On behalf of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Central Oregon neighborhood, I need to prolong our deepest condolences to the household and associates of Benjamin Shelkey,” Sheriff Kent van der Kamp mentioned, in accordance with the aforementioned sheriff’s division launch. “This can be a heartbreaking loss, and our ideas are with those that knew and liked him.”

Authorities have been first alerted in regards to the medical emergency after different folks on the mountain despatched a textual content message, describing a “trapped and injured individual in steep terrain.” The folks on the scene spent roughly 15-20 minutes to free Shelkey earlier than administering CPR with directions from 911 dispatchers, in accordance with the sheriff’s workplace. 

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After ski patrollers arrived on the scene, Shelkey was transported to an area clinic. 

The incident has brought on authorities to induce folks to watch out when pursuing out of doors actions.

“Tragedies like this remind us of the dangers of out of doors recreation, and we encourage everybody to stay vigilant and take vital precautions when venturing into deep snow situations,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned of their press launch, which was additional echoed in Lieutenant Garibay’s assertion to PEOPLE.

“The large factor is that we actually encourage folks to pay attention to situations, inform folks the place they’re going, ski with a associate, if attainable, or ski in teams,” Garibay famous. “That positively permits, should you get your self in a state of affairs… any person may be capable of help you, or witness the state of affairs and be capable of get assist.”

The Nationwide Ski Areas Affiliation warns in regards to the hazard of deep snow and tree wells. Such pure occurrences may cause accidents when a skier falls into an space of “deep unconsolidated snow,” resulting in potential entrapment and suffocation. 

“ALWAYS ski or experience with a associate inside viewing distance,” the affiliation advises.