Skier injured by avalanche on Mount Seymour taken to hospital
Rescuers carry man off mountain after helicopter grounded in poor conditions
North Shore Rescue says an injured skier has been safely taken to hospitalafter breaking his leg in an avalanche.
Rescue crews were called toMount Seymour Provincial Parkto assist theskier Tuesday afternoon.
Spokesperson MikeDanks said the skier, 35, was swept several hundred metres by a Category 2 wet avalanche and his leg was broken when he hit a tree.
The skier wason the Seymour Alpine Trail, on the southeast face of First Pump.
Dankssays about 30 members of North Shore Rescue used ropes and a stretcher to carry theinjured skier down steep terrain to get him to safety. Ahelicopter was in the area but was grounded due to low clouds.
"It was a huge process but a good team effort," Dankssaid of the effort to get the skier down the mountain.
Danks says the skier was handed off to an ambulance at the parking lot of Mount Seymour and has been taken to hospital in stable condition.
Avalanche Canada describedthe avalanche risk in the area of Mount Seymour as "moderate" to "considerable," depending on the elevation and calledavalanches "likely."
With files from Matthew Lazin-Ryder