The two men killed in an avalanche while heli-skiing near Revelstoke, British Columbia, were identified Monday as brothers and business leaders from Pennsylvania.
Timothy and Jonathan Kinsley were near Mount McCrae, in an area known as the Chocolate Bunnies, with a heliski guide when the avalanche hit them and buried them under the snow.
The three men were airlifted to Kelowna and rushed to hospital, but the Kinsleys could not be saved. Their guide, an employee of CMH Heli-Skiing, remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition.
Timothy Kinsley was president of Kinsley Properties, a real estate company in Pennsylvania, while his brother was an executive at Kinsley Enterprises, a management company that controlled their family’s business assets.
In a statement, the Kinsley family said they were “deeply heartbroken” by the news of the brothers’ deaths.
“We know their presence as dedicated leaders in our organization and community will be sorely missed by many,” the statement said. “We are grateful for your love, understanding and prayers as our entire Kinsley family copes with this loss.”
The avalanche left two of the heli-skiers completely buried and the third partially buried, according to CMH Heli-Skiing. The group had transceivers that helped crews locate them after the slide.
The outdoor adventure company offered its condolences to the Kinsley family’s loved ones in a statement posted online Tuesday.
“The thousands of guests who ski with us every winter are our family,” the release said. “Words cannot describe the grief we feel and the sadness shared by our guests, their families and all of our staff.”
The incident follows several other fatal avalanches recorded in the province in recent weeks, during a period of increased danger in the province due to fragile snow cover.
On Saturday, a motorcyclist died after being hit by an avalanche near Vallemont. Earlier this month, two off-duty officers from the Nelson Police Department were caught in a slide near the community of Kaslo.
One of them, Wade Titemore, died at the scene. He was posthumously promoted from constable to detective.
The other officer, Const. Mathieu Nolle was hospitalized for more than a week before succumbing to his injuries.
Forecasters have warned that British Columbia is likely experiencing its most dangerous avalanche season in decades, with a uniquely unstable snowpack as a result of last year’s historic flow and record-breaking winter storms.
Current information on avalanche risks is available on the Avalanche Canada website.
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