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Snowboarder who died in backcountry identified

Jonathan Unger died after falling into a tree well
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File Photo by Bonny Makarewicz

The BC Corners Service has identified the man who died after falling into a tree well while snowboarding near Pemberton Feb. 23 as Jonathan Unger, 29.

The Pemberton RCMP was alerted of a back country incident in the area of Miller's Ridge Forest Service Road at about 5 p.m. Sunday. A group of males had snowmobiled into the area to ski and snowboard.

At one point during the day one of the snowboarders was waiting for Unger who subsequently did not show up.

The friend hiked back uphill in the deep snow and found his friend, who was living in Whistler, upside down in a tree well. He managed to pull the victim out of the tree well, however, he was unresponsive, blue and not breathing.

The snowboarder and others began CPR, but they were unable to revive their friend.

Pemberton RCMP, SAR and the Fire Department attended to the Miller's Ridge Forest Service Road parking lot. As darkness was falling when they arrived, and the avalanche hazard was increasing, the decision was made to recover Unger on Monday.

The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.