Four skiers were killed on Saturday in a massive avalanche in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The city’s Unified Police Department said in a statement obtained by People Magazine saying that two groups of skiers were caught in an avalanche in the Wilson Basin area. Police added that they believe the landslide was caused by the skiers themselves.
“Four of those skiers were able to dig their way out,” Sgt. Melody Cutler told CNN. “All four of the remaining are deceased.”
All of the victims were between the ages of 23 and 38. Cutler went on to say that the spot where the avalanche happened is a “very popular backcountry ski area,” but it has “been under very high-risk avalanche conditions recently.”
“We now know that there were two groups skiing in the area when the avalanche was triggered, a group of five skiers and a group of three skiers,” said UPD officials. “The avalanche swept all eight away. Four surviving members of the groups were able to dig themselves and the others out. All eight skiers were well prepared and had the necessary equipment for the conditions.”
High Danger. Large natural avalanches overnight. Dangerous avalanche conditions. Keep it low angle. #utavy pcStetson pic.twitter.com/t7pAxOXDIX
— UtahAvalancheCenter (@UACwasatch) February 6, 2021
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox released a statement on Twitter calling this a “terrible tragedy.’
“Our prayers go out to the victims and families involved,” Cox said. “We are grateful to the first responders and others who engaged in this rescue and recovery effort. With avalanche danger high right now, please exercise extreme caution.”
This is a terrible tragedy and our prayers go out to the victims and families involved. We are grateful to the first responders and others who engaged in this rescue and recovery effort. With avalanche danger high right now, please exercise extreme caution. https://t.co/2sxB85eh74
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) February 6, 2021
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson also addressed this tragedy in a statement of her own.
“We are heartbroken over the tragic news of four fatalities as the result of an avalanche in the Millcreek Canyon area this afternoon,” she said. “We deeply mourn the loss of life due to this devastating incident.”
— Mayor Jenny Wilson (@SLCoMayor) February 7, 2021
KSL reported that the four victims have been identified as Louis Holian, 26, Stephanie Hopkins, 26, Thomas Louis Steinbrecher, 23, and Sarah Moughamian, age 29.
“Our hearts go out to loved ones of the skiers lost in Saturday’s avalanche,” said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera.
ABC 4 reported that the survivors were all males, and they were hoisted off the mountain by Life Flight Helicopters and crews. None of them had to be hospitalized.
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