Heiner 'Junior' Oberrauch lost his life in a helicopter crash in northern British Columbia on January 22, 2024, where three individuals tragically lost their lives. (Photo credit: Bergrettung Bozen/Facebook)
In the aftermath of a tragic helicopter crash in the northern reaches of British Columbia, the bodies of the three victims remain unrecovered four days later, as confirmed by the uncle of two of the deceased individuals on board. The unfortunate incident occurred around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, claiming the lives of Heiner 'Junior' Oberrauch, 32, and Andreas Widmann, 35, both hailing from the city of Bolzano, Italy. The duo was part of a larger group of 15 skiers chartered by Northern Escape Heli-Skiing, en route to the remote backcountry north of Terrace.
Heiner 'Junior' Oberrauch's brother, Jakob Oberrauch, survived the crash but sustained injuries, alongside friends Emilio Zierock and Johannes Peer. Unfortunately, one person, identified as the pilot, lost their lives in the incident, while a ski guide also suffered injuries. The surviving individuals are currently hospitalized in Vancouver, where their condition is reported as stable.
Efforts to retrieve the victims' bodies have faced significant challenges due to the remote mountainous terrain, located approximately 30 kilometres north of Terrace, accessible only by air. Adverse weather conditions, including heavy snow, hindered the recovery operation, prompting its cancellation on Thursday. The Oberrauch uncle expressed concerns about the limited prospects for a successful mission in the upcoming days, citing persistent snowfall in the region.
The B.C. Coroners Service, responsible for overseeing the recovery efforts, has not provided details on the progress or any specific timeline for the operation. Mounties emphasized the difficulty in accessing the crash site and revealed that a narrow window for recovery was missed due to weather conditions.
Amidst the tragedy, the injured survivors are preparing to return home to Italy, with Emilio Zierock undergoing back surgery and expected to join his compatriots in departing on Monday or Tuesday. Heiner 'Junior' Oberrauch, remembered as a skilled skier and a member of a mountain rescue team in South Tyrol received condolences from his rescue team posted on social media.
The helicopter, owned by Skyline Helicopters based in Kelowna, B.C., lost communication with the other two helicopters before being discovered crashed into a snowfield. Jakob Oberrauch, injured in the incident, made a distress call, and rescue protocols were activated promptly by Northern Escape Heli-Skiing.
As investigations into the crash continue, the identities of the victims and specific details about the companies involved have not been officially confirmed by the police or the coroners' service.
