Avid skier suffocates in snowy tree well at Oregon mountain resort, deputies say
An avid skier suffocated in a tree well on a popular Oregon mountain resort, deputies and news outlets reported.
Robert Douglas Harrington, 58, was found unresponsive at about 2:06 p.m. March 5 at the Mount Bachelor Ski Resort, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Another skier was passing by when they saw Harrington in a tree well, the ski resort told KTVZ.
They tried to perform CPR on Harrington, but he was unresponsive, deputies said in the release.
Mount Bachelor Ski Patrol and other first responders tried to resuscitate him, but deputies said he died.
Harrington was last seen using the Northwest Express lift, deputies said. He was discovered 30 minutes later.
A medical examiner confirmed “their findings were consistent with snow immersion suffocation. There was no evidence of trauma to Mr. Harrington and his helmet was not damaged,” deputies said in the release.
Mount Bachelor is about a 20-mile drive southwest from Bend.
What’s a tree well?
A tree well is formed when snow is unable to fill around the base of a tree because of low-hanging branches.
As a result, “deep pockets of soft, unstable snow” collect around the tree, according to the Mount Bachelor Ski Resort.
If a skier or snowboarder falls into this soft snow headfirst, they can become stuck and unable to move.
“Similar to the effects of an avalanche, the incident can leave the skier buried without air, leading to suffocation,” the resort said.
Skiers are encouraged navigate the mountain with a friend if they choose to go backcountry skiing.
Officials also recommend bringing a cellphone with the resort’s emergency number, a transceiver or beacon, a whistle, a shovel and a probe, according to Colorado Ski Country.
What to do if you fall into a tree well?
Experts said “prevention is clearly the best way to deal with the risks associated with tree wells,” according to Wilderness Medicine Magazine.
But if you do end up in a tree well, there are a few things you can do to help yourself, according to Deep Snow Safety.
- Yell or whistle to get your partner’s or anyone’s attention.
- Try to keep your head above the snow’s surface by rolling or grabbing the tree’s branches.
- If you can’t and you’re submerged in the snow, make space around your face and your airway. At this point, “resist the urge to struggle, it could compromise your airspace and entrap you further.”
- Stay calm.
- Trust someone is going to rescue you.
- Call for help using your cellphone if you can.
