A picture of a helicopter is visible in an image shared on the Facebook page of Northern Escape Heli-Skiing.
In a tragic incident on Monday afternoon, a helicopter operated by Northern Escape Heli-Skiing crashed north of Terrace in northwestern British Columbia, resulting in the loss of three lives. The heli-skiing company confirmed the fatalities and expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Additionally, four individuals are currently hospitalized in critical condition.
The Northern Escape Heli-Skiing aircraft went down around 4:15 p.m., prompting an immediate response from emergency services. BC Emergency Health Services dispatched primary care, advanced care, and critical care paramedics to the scene, along with three air ambulances and five ground ambulances. At the crash site, paramedics provided treatment to four patients before transporting them to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace, where a Code Orange was declared to manage the influx of casualties.
John Forrest, the president of Northern Escape, issued a heartfelt statement acknowledging the profound grief felt by the company and expressing condolences to the affected families. "It is impossible to put into words the profound grief that we feel and the sorrow that our guests and our staff share," Forrest stated. He urged respect for the privacy of those impacted during this extremely difficult time.
The spokesperson for Northern Health extended gratitude to Mills Memorial staff and medical responders for their prompt and compassionate actions. The hospital's declaration of a Code Orange indicates a coordinated effort to address mass casualty incidents.
As investigations into the crash are underway, Forrest assured that Northern Escape would collaborate closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other authorities to determine the cause of the tragic incident.
In summary, a helicopter crash in northwestern British Columbia claimed three lives and left four individuals in critical condition. The incident occurred during a heli-skiing operation conducted by Northern Escape Heli-Skiing. Emergency services, including air and ground ambulances, responded promptly, and the affected individuals were transported to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace. The hospital declared a Code Orange to manage the situation. The president of Northern Escape expressed deep sorrow over the incident and pledged cooperation with authorities investigating the crash.
