*** Backcountry Skier Rescued at Singing Pass, B.C. ***

		  Whistler Search and Rescue
			April 3-4/95

Whistler Search and Rescue had another successful operation Monday
night.  40-year-old Kirk Cunningham had skied from Whistler Mountain back
to Singing pass Monday afternoon.

Shortly after starting down the Singing Pass Trail, Cunningham hit a tree,
breaking his leg and ending up in a tree well.  His skiing partner made him
comfortable and skied out for help. He contacted Bernie Protch of Whistler
Mountain Ski Patrol. Protch contacted Whistler RCMP and Whistler SAR. 

There was just enough daylight to for Sean Regan of Whistler Helicopters to
fly Bernie Protch, the witness and two members of Whistler SAR - Wayne Flann
and Jon Anderson back to Singing Pass. They made their way down to
Cunningham and splinted his leg, which appeared to have a compound tibia
fracture.  He was placed in a SKED and moved a short distance to a clearing.

Due to the fracture appearing to be compound, and the long, rough and danger
ous trip Cunningham would have had down to the valley, it was decided to
request 442 Squadron of Comox to perform a night helicopter extrication. At
first, it looked like 442 would be able to come in with their night equipped
Labrador helicopter, but the weather at Comox was closing in with the
approach of a storm. 

The members of the rescue team dug a snow cave to provide shelter and kept a
fire going all night. Cunningham, who was described as being a "pretty
tough guy" spent a reasonably comfortable and warm night. The rescue crew
went mostly without sleep, with wet snow falling throughout the night.
Members of Whistler SAR reassembled in the valley at 6am.  Although it had
rained quite hard in the valley throughout the night, the weather was
suitable for flying by morning.  Pilot Steve Flynn, of Blackcomb
Helicopters, along with Paul Skelton and Bill Mark - both trained by
Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises in HFRS (Helicopter Flight Rescue System) flew
up to the site and lifted Cunningham from where he had spent the night and
put down in Singing Pass.  There he was placed inside the helicopter and
flown down to the Whistler Medical Clinic where he received treatment.

This successful rescue was contributed to by Whistler SAR, Whistler Ski
Patrol, RCMP, EHS, Whistler Helicopters Ltd., Blackcomb Helicopters Ltd.,
and Blackcomb Ski Patrol.

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