Snowmobiler in B.C. dies after being caught by avalanche; 2nd snowmobiler survives

NELSON, B.C. – One man is dead following an avalanche in British Columbia near Kooteney Glacier Provincial Park between Nelson and Cranbrook.

Nelson Search and Rescue Manager Lou Coletti says two snowmobilers were swept away by the avalanche on Tuesday.

He says one rider was buried while the other managed to get down to Gray Creek to call for help at about 2:30 p.m.

Kimberley Search and Rescue says they dug the snowmobiler out of the snow after three to four hours but he died on the way to hospital.

The names and ages of the two men have not yet been released.

The avalanche fatality is the fourth in less than a week in western Canada.

Last Sunday, Adrian John Cleary, 34, of Come By Chance, N.L., died after being buried under deep snow about 90 kilometres east of Vernon, B.C.

And, last Saturday, two people visiting from Spain were killed when they were struck by an avalanche while snowshoeing near Lake Louise, Alta. (News1130)