31 Dec 2008

Eighth body found after avalanches

12:58 pm on 31 December 2008

The body has been found of an eighth man killed by an avalanche in the Rocky Mountains.

Corporal Chris Faulkner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Tuesday he was buried about one to 1.5 metres below the surface.

Eight men were caught in avalanches on Sunday near Fernie in Elk Valley, British Columbia, about 300km km south-west of Calgary, Alberta. They were on snow mobiles. Three others survived.

Seven bodies were found on Monday, before the search was called off due to heavy snowfall and an increased risk of avalanches.

All were from the Elk Valley mining town of Sparwood. Two belonged to the same family.

Sparwood Mayor Wilks said they "were all born here, they went to school here, most of them went to school with each other. Some of them are related."