Saturday 20 April 2013

5 snowboarders killed: Survivor digs himself out of avalanche, calls for help

5 snowboarders killed: Survivor digs himself out of avalanche, calls for help, The five snowboarders that were killed in a Colorado avalanche today were found after a sixth snowboarder was able to dig himself out of the avalanche and call for help. The six snowboarders had gone into an out-of-bounds zone this afternoon and triggered an avalanche that “that measured more than 200 yards wide and nearly 400 yards long,” said Clear Creek County Sheriff Don Krueger according to an ABC News report on April 20, 2013.

Early Saturday afternoon, the six snowboarders had gone to an area above the Loveland Pass ski area, about 60 miles west of Denver in Colorado.

Despite the fact that avalanche forecasters had warned of “considerable” danger in the area on Saturday and that anyone wandering into the area should check snowpack conditions and pick routes carefully, the six snowboarders, whose names have not been released by officials, decided to venture into the area above Loveland Pass.

The five killed snowboarders were found under eight feet of snow by rescue teams who worked into the evening during a heavy snowstorm.

The sixth snowboarder was only partially buried by the avalanche and was able to dig himself out and call for help. He had no outward signs of injury and after a brief hospitalization, was able to go home.

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