U.S. hiker dies after falling from popular B.C. trail near Whistler
Posted July 11, 2023 5:52 pm.
Last Updated July 11, 2023 8:12 pm.
Mounties in B.C. say a 28-year-old American woman has died after she fell from a popular hiking trail near Whistler.
The Sea to Sky RCMP has identified the woman as Nicole Killian from Richmond, Vermont. She was a member of a rescue team in her hometown.
Sea to Sky officers as well as RCMP Air Services, BC Ambulance paramedics, and Whistler Search and Rescue responded to a report that a woman had fallen off the Black Tusk chimney portion of Garibaldi Provincial Park and was seriously injured on Monday.
Sea to Sky RCMP say 28-year-old Nicole Killian fell off the Black Tusk chimney portion of Mt. Garibaldi and was seriously injured, she later died from her injuries. (Courtesy: Sea to Sky RCMP)
Police say she died of her injuries a short time after teams arrived to provide medical aid.
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 are asking anyone with information to come forward.
“Garibaldi Provincial Park and the Black Tusk is a highly popular area in the Sea to Sky and although readily travelled this remains a technical and advanced level hike,” RCMP Sgt. Sascha Banks said in a news release Tuesday.
“The Black Tusk Chimney and scree portion can be extremely dangerous to even the most skilled adventurer, be sure to trip-plan and assess your abilities prior to attempting this area.”
Police say Killian was a member of the Richmond Rescue team in Vermont. Her family has been notified, they add.
Killian was a “rescuer of dogs and people alike” who “loved her friends and family deeply,” according to a statement from her family, provided by police.
“She had just earned her doctorate as a Nurse Practitioner from NYU after working tirelessly in the ER and Rescue,” the statement continued. “She was impeccably herself and is irreplaceable.”
