German tourists on celebratory trip latest victims in ‘horrific’ B.C. avalanche season

What was supposed to be a celebratory ski trip to B.C. for a German father, his friend and two sons, ended in tragedy Wednesday when three of the men died in an avalanche.

Bavarian news outlet Passauer Neue Presse reported management consultant Thomas Kräh, 57, and his son-in-law Henning, 34, were with 57-year-old politician Christian Altmann when the slide occurred 30 kilometres southwest of Invermere.

The men had travelled from the village of Eging, in Bavaria’s Passau County, with Kräh’s son Thomas, 25, to celebrate the completion of his degree, Global News reported.

Thomas Kräh was the sole survivor of the group, which was made up of nine foreigners helicoptered into the backcountry Wednesday by heli-skiing company RK Heliski with a company guide. The tourists had been staying at Panorama Mountain Resort.

By 11:45 a.m., B.C. Emergency Health Services were notified an avalanche had swept up 10 skiers, including the RK Heliski guide.