A day of skiing at Vail ended in tragedy after a 43-year-old visitor from Chile was injured in Blue Sky Basin and later died at a Denver hospital, resort officials confirmed.
The skier was involved in an incident last Saturday in the Big Rock Park area of Blue Sky Basin. Vail Ski Patrol responded on the mountain, provided emergency care and transported him off the slope. He was first taken to Vail Health for evaluation, then flown to Denver, where he was later pronounced dead at Denver Health, according to the resort.
Resort officials confirmed the guest’s death but did not release additional operational details, citing the need to notify family members.
According to Vail Daily, ski patrol initially responded to a report of an incident in the Big Rock Park area before the skier was taken to Vail Health and then airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
Rescue Response and Hospital Transfer
Vail Mountain officials said ski patrol led the on-slope response, administering care before the skier was moved down from Blue Sky Basin and transported to medical facilities. The man was first taken to Vail Health, then flown to Denver Health Medical Center for further treatment, where he was ultimately declared dead.
In a statement to Vail Daily, Beth Howard, vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain, said, “Vail Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends.”
Blue Sky Basin Terrain and Past Incidents
Blue Sky Basin, home to areas such as Big Rock Park, is known for its steep, technical glades and rock features. When a run goes bad in that kind of terrain, the consequences can be severe.
Past incidents at Vail have highlighted the risks that come with backbowl and lift-area terrain. In 2020, The Washington Post reported on a fatality in Blue Sky Basin that prompted the resort to briefly close terrain while investigators reviewed what happened.
Officials in the current case have not released details about what caused Saturday’s incident. They said they are cooperating with local authorities, and the coroner will determine and release the official cause of death when it is available.
This story will be updated as officials provide new information.
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