Avalanche in British Columbia kills 2 Alaska snowboarders

Credit: Simon Steinberger/Pixabay

Credit: Simon Steinberger/Pixabay

Two 21-year-old snowboarders from Alaska were killed Monday afternoon in an avalanche at a provincial park in British Columbia, authorities said.

According to a news release from the Haines Volunteer Fire Department, Zane Durr and Matthew Green were killed around 12:30 p.m. Haines city manager Debra Schnabel said a third snowboarder, a 16-year-old, survived the avalanche, KTVA reported.

It's a very sad day in Haines. Our love and support goes out to the families involved. We will share any new details as...

Posted by Haines Avalanche Center on Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The trio was hiking at the time of the avalanche at Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, Schnabel told the television station. Durr and Green were buried by the snow as it hurtled into a terrain trap, according to Avalanche Canada. The teen was partially buried but got free and used a satellite messaging system to call for assistance, CNN reported.

Durr and Green were roommates in Seattle, Schnabel told the Vancouver Sun. One was attending a trade school and the other was also pursuing post-secondary education, Schabel said. The two men had returned to their homes in Haines for the holidays and were planning to return to Washington, according to the Sun.

Durr's family has deep roots in the Haines community, while Green's family has lived in the town for 10 years, KTVA reported.

"We have a heavy heart across the community," Schnabel told the Sun. "It's generational and very broad, the impact to the community."

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