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Jackson skier dies after fall into tree well

(Photo by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort)

JACKSON (WNE) — A 67-year-old Jackson man died Friday when he fell into a tree well inbounds at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This marks the second death within two weeks in a tree well at an area resort.

Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue identified the skier as Kelly George Krause. Early in the afternoon, he became separated from a group of valley residents he was skiing with as part of the resort’s Mountain Sports School.

A group of snowboarders found Krause. A resort ski instructor notified Jackson Hole Ski Patrol, resort spokesperson Eric Seymour wrote in a news release.

“The Jackson Hole Ski Patrol responded immediately to the location, which was in a section of tightly spaced pine trees between Rendezvous Trail and The Hobacks on the south side of the mountain,” Seymour wrote.

Krause couldn’t be revived. An emergency medicine physician with St. John’s Health Urgent Care pronounced him dead at the scene.

Blue said an exact cause of death will be available in a few days but cited the preliminary cause as tree well immersion.

Snow immersion suffocation occurs when a skier falls into a tree well or deep, loose snow, becoming trapped under the snow and dying by asphyxiation.

Krause and his family own the Virginian Restaurant.

“We offer our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those involved,” Jackson Hole Mountain Resort President Mary Kate Buckley said, “and we hold them in our thoughts and hearts during this difficult time.”

Krause is the second skier to die inbounds after falling into a tree well this season in Teton County.

A 67-year-old Colorado skier died two weeks ago, Feb. 19, after falling into a tree well inbounds at Grand Targhee Resort

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