NSW woman dies after avalanche at Canada ski resort
A woman from NSW has died in a "serious incident" after an avalanche was triggered while she was snowboarding at the popular Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in Canada.
The 42-year-old was snowboarding at the resort on Thursday local time when she slipped and fell off a cliff, according to local police.
Sergeant Rob Knapton from Whistler Police said the woman had taken off her snowboard and was walking at the time.
"She lost her footing and started to slide down and went over the cliff," Sergeant Knapton said.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police told local media that the area the woman had been in was permanently closed. The woman would have died even if there had not been an avalanche, police said.
In a statement, the resort said it "regretfully confirms that a serious incident took place on the mountain".
The resort said ski patrol "responded to a snowboarder incident ... which triggered a class 1 avalanche".
The incident took place in the closed terrain over Lakeside Bowl, one of the resort's advanced ski runs, below Blackcomb Peak.
A 36-year-old man who was snowboarding with the woman was rescued from the same area.
The woman was transported to Whistler Health Care Centre where she died after being given further emergency care and evaluation.
"Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest's family and friends," chief operating officer Pete Sonntag said.
Both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Coroner’s Service were notified, and investigations are under way.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson confirmed the agency is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in Canada.
"Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," the spokesperson said.
with AAP