Skier dies after falling into tree well at B.C. resort: police

A 76-year-old man has died after falling into a tree well at Red Mountain Resort in British Columbia'sInterior, police say.

RCMP saythey receivedreports around 3:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday of a man in critical condition at the resort just outside Rossland,around 150 kilometres southeast of Kelowna, B.C.

The man had been found unconscious andburied under snow in a tree well on resort property by another skier, police said. They said members of the resort's volunteer ski patrol rescued the man from the tree well and he wastaken to Kootenary Boundary Regional Hospital in nearby Trail, where he died.

Trail RCMP Sgt. MikeWicentowichsaidthe man was a "long-time, well known" resident of thearea who loved skiing. He said police won't be releasing his name at his family's request.

"This loss marks a sad day for the City of Rossland," he said. "It's very sad. With a community this small, I think there will be a period of mourning and reflection."

Wicentowichsaid police don't believe weather or snow conditions on the ski hill are related to the death.

"Unfortunately, when people fall into a tree wellthey can lose the ability to breathe and go unconscious," he said.