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Two Aussies die in ski resort crash
From correspondents in Whistler, Canada
June 07, 2006
TWO Australians have been killed in a snowmobile crash at one of Canada's most popular ski resorts.
Benjamin Kontor, 23, of Perth, and 24-year-old Joshua Bradford of the Sydney suburb of Casula, died when their snowmobile hit a tree at Whistler, in the western province of British Columbia.
The deaths have been confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Whistler Blackcomb resort, which employed the men as lift operators.
The accident happened about 7pm local time on June 5, yesterday morning Australian time.
The resort said the crash happened on a trail called Lower Whiskey Jack in the middle of Whistler Mountain.
"There were no witnesses to the crash. Both men were riding on the same snowmobile and they were both wearing helmets," Whistler Blackcomb said in a statement.
Mr Kontor and Mr Bradford had finished work at one of the chair lifts and were on their way to the top of a gondola where they were to report to work for a function at a local restaurant.
"Snow conditions at the time and place of the accident were reported as soft, slushy and spring like," the resort said.
"Skies were clear, and visibility was unlimited."
The company said it was "deeply saddened" by the accident and expressed its condolences to the men's families.
"Grief counselling will be available to the many Whistler friends and co-workers that the two men have touched during their time in the resort and a memorial will be planned once the wishes of the family are known," the statement said.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating the accident and are in the process of recovering the wrecked snowmobile.
An RCMP spokesman said the men were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash but it was not yet known what caused the accident.
"We'll do a full work-up on the snowmobile to see if there is anything faulty with the snowmobile," the spokesman told ABC radio.
"It's too early to tell if it was mechanical or human (error) at this time."
A DFAT spokeswoman said the department was providing assistance to the men's families.
Mr Bradford's brother, Neil, today said the family was struggling to come to terms with Joshua's death in what was "just a freak accident".
"We've just got to stick together," he told Channel 9.
"I've just lost my only brother and it's just hard."
Joshua had been in Canada for six months on a working holiday but had been travelling the world for more than 18 months, he said.
Neil said his brother loved the snow.
"It was his passion," he said.
From correspondents in Whistler, Canada
June 07, 2006
TWO Australians have been killed in a snowmobile crash at one of Canada's most popular ski resorts.
Benjamin Kontor, 23, of Perth, and 24-year-old Joshua Bradford of the Sydney suburb of Casula, died when their snowmobile hit a tree at Whistler, in the western province of British Columbia.
The deaths have been confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Whistler Blackcomb resort, which employed the men as lift operators.
The accident happened about 7pm local time on June 5, yesterday morning Australian time.
The resort said the crash happened on a trail called Lower Whiskey Jack in the middle of Whistler Mountain.
"There were no witnesses to the crash. Both men were riding on the same snowmobile and they were both wearing helmets," Whistler Blackcomb said in a statement.
Mr Kontor and Mr Bradford had finished work at one of the chair lifts and were on their way to the top of a gondola where they were to report to work for a function at a local restaurant.
"Snow conditions at the time and place of the accident were reported as soft, slushy and spring like," the resort said.
"Skies were clear, and visibility was unlimited."
The company said it was "deeply saddened" by the accident and expressed its condolences to the men's families.
"Grief counselling will be available to the many Whistler friends and co-workers that the two men have touched during their time in the resort and a memorial will be planned once the wishes of the family are known," the statement said.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating the accident and are in the process of recovering the wrecked snowmobile.
An RCMP spokesman said the men were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash but it was not yet known what caused the accident.
"We'll do a full work-up on the snowmobile to see if there is anything faulty with the snowmobile," the spokesman told ABC radio.
"It's too early to tell if it was mechanical or human (error) at this time."
A DFAT spokeswoman said the department was providing assistance to the men's families.
Mr Bradford's brother, Neil, today said the family was struggling to come to terms with Joshua's death in what was "just a freak accident".
"We've just got to stick together," he told Channel 9.
"I've just lost my only brother and it's just hard."
Joshua had been in Canada for six months on a working holiday but had been travelling the world for more than 18 months, he said.
Neil said his brother loved the snow.
"It was his passion," he said.
