A Seattle man, aged 34, tragically lost his life in a ski-related accident on Mt. Bachelor, according to officials. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Benjamin Shelkey and, as KGW reports, he was pronounced dead after rescue efforts were unsuccessful and he was transported to the Mt. Bachelor Clinic.
The emergency unfolded yesterday when an SOS alert was sent out via an Apple device's satellite connection at 3:04 p.m., an alert which indicated that a person was trapped and injured in steep terrain on the west side of Mount Bachelor. As KATU News details, the emergency responders, included the Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol, AirLink, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and Search and Rescue teams, all of whom responded immediately to the site pinpointed by GPS coordinates.
Shelkey’s death calls attention to the inherent dangers of skiing near tree wells, especially during times of heavy snowfall. Tree wells, the space around a tree under its snow-covered branches, can be perilously deceptive and dangerous. According to advice compiled from The Seattle Times archives and shared by The Seattle Times, individuals should avoid falling in headfirst, attempt to grab onto branches, and try to deliberately fall before reaching a tree well to avoid a deep immersion. Once caught, it's imperative to protect one's airway, and partners should maintain visual and verbal contact to aid in a fast rescue.
Furthermore, those venturing into ungroomed, forested ski areas should carry a shovel and whistle and avoid wearing pole straps, for, as the informative piece from The Seattle Times states, "Seconds count." In the wake of this tragedy, the emphasis falls on preparation and rapid response as key components of ski safety, a lesson underscored by the all-too-soon passing of Shelkey.
