Friends are mourning the loss of 15-year-old Reid Kyfiuk, who died Tuesday on Mount Washington.
Reid, 15, an experienced snowboarder who was in Grade 10 at Claremont Secondary School in Saanich, was found in a tree well about seven hours after he went missing.
He had been on blue runs — described as “more difficult” — near the top of the Mount Washington Alpine Resort with his sister when they became separated about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Mount Washington’s alpine ski patrols immediately launched a search, and Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue were called at 5 p.m. His body was located about 11 p.m.
The teen’s death is being investigated by the B.C. Coroners Service and the RCMP.
Regional coroner Matt Brown said there is no indication Reid suffered a traumatic injury.
“What we know is that he was inbound on a run that was not groomed,” Brown said. “He was found in an area closer to the top of the mountain. And he was found in a large unmarked hole where a tree had been. I think they call it a tree well, but, again, that’s very preliminary.”
On Wednesday afternoon, the RCMP and the coroner returned to the area in daylight to get a better idea of what had taken place, Brown said.
The resort will have to review what happened and consider potential changes, he said. He could not say whether tree wells are common on ski hills.
Brown noted Reid’s death was just three days before Christmas. “My heart goes out to the family. This is terrible.”
Mount Washington offered its condolences to the family. “This is a very sad tragedy,” said general manager Peter Gibson.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Raj Manak, a Grade 11 student at Claremont, expressed sadness and shock at his friend’s death.
“I can’t believe he is gone,” Raj said. The teens met through the Claremont golf program and quickly became good friends.
“He was a great friend to me and one of the nicest and funniest people I know,” Raj said. “He was a phenomenal athlete and a great student at school. He stayed over at my place on Saturday night because we wanted to get together one last time before Christmas.”
Leeland Soto, who played hockey with Reid for two years, remembered him as someone who was always smiling.
“We’ve been good buddies for four years or so. He was the most caring guy ever. He was always happy,” Leeland said.
Reid was a good hockey player, playing as a forward on the Saanich Braves minor hockey team, Leeland said. His death will leave a hole in the lives of his friends, he said. “It’s going to affect a lot of people.”
