Ski patroller dies after conducting avalanche mitigation work at California ski resort
A ski patroller who was injured while performing avalanche mitigation work at a California ski resort on Friday has died, the resort operator said on Sunday.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol identified him as 30-year-old Cole Murphy, saying he was "an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and love for his career."
Another ski patroller was injured in the incident, the resort said Friday.
The avalanche occurred at Mammoth Mountain at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time, prior to ski area operations. The two patrollers got caught in a slide and were transported to an area hospital, the resort said.
The ski area was closed for the remainder of the day amid high avalanche danger, the resort said.
Mammoth Mountain, which is located in Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains, has received more than 5 feet of snow since Tuesday, the resort said.
Murphy's family released a statement on Sunday, saying he "moved through the world with kindness, intention, and a wholehearted devotion to the life he chose."
"The mountain was where Cole felt most alive. It was his place of purpose, his community, and his second home," his family said, adding, "Serving on ski patrol wasn't just a role for him -- it was a calling."
