US hiker dies after fall from popular BC hiking trail near Whistler
WHISTLER, BC — Mounties in British Columbia say a 28-year-old American woman has died after falling from a popular hiking trail near Whistler.
Sea to Sky RCMP has identified the woman as Nicole Killian of Richmond, Vermont, who was a member of a rescue team in her hometown.
Sea to Sky officers, RCMP Air Services, BC Ambulance paramedics and Whistler Search and Rescue responded to a report that a woman had fallen from the Black Tusk chimney section of Garibaldi Provincial Park on Monday and was seriously injured.
Police say she died of her injuries shortly after they arrived to provide medical attention.
They say the RCMP, the BC Coroners Service and BC Parks are now working on a joint investigation to determine the events leading up to the incident.
They’re asking anyone with information to come forward.
“Garibaldi Provincial Park and the Black Tusk is a very popular area in the Sea to Sky and while easily traveled, this remains a technical and advanced hike,” RCMP Sgt. Sascha Banks said in a press release Tuesday.
“The Black Tusk chimney and rubble area can be extremely dangerous for even the most skilled adventurer, make sure you plan a trip and assess your skills before attempting this area.”
Police say Killian was a member of the Richmond Rescue team in Vermont. Her family has been notified, they said.
Killian is remembered as a “rescuer of dogs and people” who “loved her friends and family very much,” says a statement from her family, provided by police.
“She had just received her doctorate as a Nurse Practitioner from NYU after working tirelessly in the emergency and rescue services,” the statement said. “She was impeccably herself and is irreplaceable.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 11, 2023.
