The radio station owner and his two friends were killed after the helicopter skied towards the steep Alaska mountains and were trapped in a massive avalanche on Tuesday.
David Linder, 39, Charles Eppard, 39, and Jeremy Reef, 38, were on a guided heliski trip in the Chugach Mountains near Guardwood, about 40 miles south of Anchorage when they were caught up in a “big avalanche” at around 3:30pm for the Alaska Troopers. announcement on wednesday.
Troopers said recovery workers were prevented from searching for men immediately because of “deteriorating areas that prevented helicopter flights” and “substantial avalanche risk.”
The search for the three men did not begin until the day after the accident.
Skiers were feared to be buried in a snowy mountain, estimated to be “nearly 40 to 100 feet deep.”
The fourth skier who was founded with the group was rescued, Anchorage Daily News It has been reported.
Witnesses said three skiers deployed avalanche airbags. The backpack features a built-in airbag system designed to enhance human buoyancy and vision in an avalanche when cleaned in the snow.
The surviving skier said he heard someone scream “Avalanche!” On the previous radio, when the disaster began at about 3,500 feet altitude and finally stopped at about 700 feet.
Linder, a Miami resident, was a co-owner of Arctic media.
The company operates more than 20 talk shows and music radio stations in Minnesota, including Radio Mankato. Minnesota Star Tribune It has been reported.
“I remember Dave Linder as an amazing family man. Matt Ketelsen, managing partner at Radio Mankato, said: statement Thursday. “Dave cared about his radio station and the community we serve.”
Ketersen also said, “Dave was a great skier, very confident and a good skier.”
“He's done this before, and this wasn't new to him.”
Linder leaves his wife and three children behind.
Epard of Big Fork, Montana said, “He was a loving father, a devoted husband, an incredibly thoughtful and hardworking employee, and an amazing person overall.” gofundme Set up to support his family.
The 39-year-old dad graduated from Gustavas Adolphus University in 2007 and has been working at IBM software since 2012. LinkedIn.
“As a little kid, I can't remember exactly how old it was, but I just wanted to be like my brother,” his brother John said, “I always wanted to be like my brother.” I said. “And he was skiing, so I wanted to be like him, so I skied.”
He was a few weeks away from his 40th birthday, his brother revealed.
“He was a very passionate guy and whatever he did, he was like everything,” John said. “I feel lucky to have him as my older brother.”
Epard leaves behind his wife Brittany and daughter Belem.
Leif of Minneapolis was CEO of Leif Consulting Group, a company founded in December 2023. LinkedIn.
Dedicated Minnesota Viking fans leave their wife and two children. Facebook show.
Heliskier uses helicopters to arrive at mountains in remote backcountry areas where either skiing or snowboarding is not accessible by ski lifts.
Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center Regional forecasts, including Girdwood, listed “slight” avalanche risks at higher elevations on Tuesday.
The deaths of Linder, Eppard and Leif show the most deadly US avalanches as three climbers were killed in a slide in Washington's Cascade Range in 2023.
Before Tuesday's tragedy, 15 people were killed in the United States in an avalanche this winter.
With post wire
