| TELLURIDE, Colo. -- A heli-skiing accident killed a | | | | of the water," said San Miguel County Sheriff Bill |
| woman who fell into a small creek and drowned | | | | Masters . "When they were finally able to get her |
| when her helmet got stuck between two rocks in | | | | out after about eight to 10 minutes, she was |
| the water. | | | | pulse-less, breathless." See Telluride Helitrax |
| | | | | |
| Fifty-year-old Mary Scott King, of Huntington | | | | Masters called the death "one of those freak |
| Beach, Calif., was snowboarding with a guide from | | | | things." |
| Telluride Helitrax in the Mineral Creek Basin, just | | | | |
| east of Ophir Pass, Saturday morning when she | | | | O'Neil's fiance, Carlo Nafarrete, thanked rescuers |
| was negotiating a steep-slope traverse as she | | | | for their efforts. |
| crossed a small creek. | | | | |
| | | | | "My heartfelt thanks and prayers to all who |
| The San Miguel County Sheriff's Office said King | | | | attended to MaryScott, and also a special thanks |
| fell backward in the water and that her helmet | | | | to the community of Telluride at large for their |
| became wedged between two rocks in the creek. | | | | overwhelming support and sympathy to both |
| Only her head was under water. Her legs and | | | | myself and the King family," he said. "I do thank |
| snowboard were on the bank. | | | | Helitrax as well. And the Sheriff's Department and |
| | | | | all of the city services for their valiant effort. I |
| "I immediately skied to the client and began | | | | don't want that to go unnoticed. They did try -- |
| extrication efforts," said guide Hilaree O'Neill during | | | | they tried to save her, and I am forever |
| a teleconference with reporters on Monday. "It | | | | grateful." |
| took considerable effort to extricate Mary Scott | | | | |
| (King)." | | | | Heli-skiing is backcountry downhill skiing or |
| | | | | snowboarding in which skiers and boarders are |
| O'Neill said she had to dig through snow in order | | | | delivered by helicopter, not a ski lift. |
| to reach King's head, which was wedged beneath | | | | |
| an undercut rock just large enough to keep King's | | | | King was on her second run of the day when she |
| face wedged beneath 12 and 16 inches of water. | | | | lost her balance and fell into the creek. She had |
| The stream itself was less than 2 feet wide, | | | | proposed to her boyfriend the day before she |
| leaving the guides with little room to work. | | | | died, the Orange County Register reported on |
| | | | | Tuesday. |
| O'Neil said she tried to remove King's helmet, but | | | | |
| her hands became numb in the ice-cold water. | | | | She was a former competitive speed skater and |
| | | | | had done river rafting, cliff diving, rock climbing, |
| "Her head became lodged; head and helmet were | | | | and backpacking, according to a friend. King |
| caught under a rock in the creek. Guides tried to | | | | worked as a human resources specialist at Boeing. |
| pull her out and had a difficult time getting her out | | | | |