Idaho doctor with love of adventure dies in avalanche he apparently triggered while skiing

An Idaho emergency room physician who related adventure-seeking to acts of altruism died on Friday in an avalanche that he apparently triggered whereas snowboarding.

The Sawtooth Avalanche Heart reported {that a} skier was killed on Friday whereas backcountry snowboarding on Donaldson Peak in Idaho’s Misplaced River Vary. The Custer County coroner recognized the skier as emergency division doctor Dr. Terrence “Terry” O’Connor, based on Idaho Mountain Categorical.

O’Connor was on a down climb with one other skilled backcountry skier Friday when he “triggered and was caught in a small wind slab avalanche,” the avalanche heart reported. The slide then triggered a second, bigger avalanche.

His snowboarding companion, who was not recognized, referred to as for assist utilizing a satellite tv for pc communication system earlier than following his path and finding him. They dug O’Connor out of the snow and commenced CPR.

A search-and-rescue workforce responded however O’Connor didn’t survive the accident, the avalanche heart stated.

The Idaho EMS Doctor Fee confirmed his dying within the accident in a press release posted to Fb, saying O’Connor’s loss could be felt all through the state and area.

“Terry was an impressive doctor and performed a pivotal function within the early days of the COVID pandemic actually demonstrating the general public well being function of the EMS medical director inside a group,” the assertion stated.

O’Connor labored on the St. Luke’s Wooden River Medical Heart in Ketchum, Idaho, based on the hospital’s web site. It featured a weblog written on O’Connor in 2021 describing his service to the group in the course of the pandemic.

“I work in a small group, however I really feel like I can nonetheless assist with a worldwide well being drawback,” O’Connor stated on the time.

O’Connor additionally tied his inclination towards acts of selflessness and altruism to his love of journey. In accordance with the weblog, O’Connor had gone to Mount Everest thrice, the final of which he was in a position to summit.

He hosted a podcast referred to as “The Journey Activist,” which is described as a spot for “significant dialog” with friends on how they add worth to the world and “do some good with their ardour for journey.”