*** Rescuers Recover 3 Killed in Cerebus Mountain Avalanche ***

From: martin Colwell, Lions Bat Search & Rescue
sar_admin@mindlink.bc.ca
26th May 1996

Three members of a party of five experienced backcountry skiers were struck
by an avalanche while attempting to climb Mount Cerebus in the remote
Monarch Icefield of British Columbia, at 12:30pm on Friday May 17th 1996.
The two remaining survivors attempted to rescue those buried but all three
were found to be deceased by the time they were dug out of the avalanche.
All were wearing avalanche beacons, wich speeded the location of the
victims.

The two surviving skiers, Betsy Fletcher and Phillip Hammer, left the three
deceased: Betsy's husband Brian Waddington, Janet Noakes and John Pearson
and began a four-day ski-out to Bella Coola, about 70 kilometrs away
through the coastal mountain range.

Upon notifying the Royal Canadian Mounted Police the Provincial Emergency
Program despatched Whistler Search & Rescue team to the accident site.
Seven members of the team, including an avalanche expert from Whistler/
Blackcomb mountain ski resort, flew in to Bella Coola and then to the
accident site to assess the situation and recover the bodies.

Fifteen minutes after the rescue team had completed their assignment, at
12:15pm, another avalanche occurred, due to the warming effect of the
afternoon sun.


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