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Queenstown skier Sophie Kennedy described to the Queenstown Times what she experienced on the late afternoon an avalanche claimed the life of Queenstown snowboarder Ryan Campbell.
Ms Kennedy was skiing with Wakatipu friends Adrian Nankivell and Debbie Nelson on August 2. The trio were the first to try to find Mr Campbell after the class 2.5 avalanche buried him beneath 3.5m of snow, outside of the Coronet Peak skifield area.
She said the group heard a noise in the distance as they worked their way up the Sarah Sue Trail.
"We all strained our eyes and ears but we couldn't see anyone at that point. Eventually, someone popped over the ridge and we could tell it was a cry for help."
The Queenstown resident of seven years went down into the gully to help in the search. As she climbed back up the ridge to call the emergency services again, she saw three ski patrollers approaching.
"I told them everything I had found out and we assisted for another couple of hours."
The experience on August 2 reminded her to carry a transceiver, probe, shovel, first-aid kit, down jacket, charged cellphone, compass and a lighter whenever she and friends ventured into the back country.
"When you head into the mountains you're always taking a chance against the unknown elements . . . why stack the odds against yourself if you don't have to?"
