Tragic school trip

[Jaydaan]

Boy in critical condition after chairlift accident
Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, January 19, 2008

VERNON - A boy is in critical condition after a horrifying accident during a school trip at a North Okanagan ski resort.

The 12-year-old boy was snowboarding at Silver Star Mountain Resort with his classmates from an elementary school in Vernon Thursday afternoon.

He was trying to dismount at the summit chairlift's midstation -- halfway up the mountain -- when the chinstrap of his helmet got caught on the lift. As a group of children watched, he was dragged into the air and dangled there for an unknown time before falling free. He then plummeted about 10 metres to the ski run below.

Silver Star spokesman Michael Sherwood was saying little Friday about the accident. "All we can say is that there was a serious injury involving a young boy," he said.

Vernon RCMP said the boy was taken to a local hospital in serious condition. He was later flown to B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver when his injuries worsened.

Brian Stevens, the principal at Harwood elementary, said a grief counselling team was at the school "to debrief with kids, to see how things are going, as well as touch base with teachers."

He said other students who were on the trip were coping well.

"We're all extremely concerned with what took place," he said. "It was a school trip, which takes place every year.

"Obviously, our thoughts are with the child."

Stevens praised staff at his school, as well as staff at Silver Star, for their professional response to the accident.

The summit lift was not in operation Friday, and B.C. Safety Authority investigators will examine the lift before it's reopened.


© The Vancouver Sun 2008
************************

This was my son's classmate.... The kids all watched this. The child has still not regained consciousness..... It makes me queasy, as I know this child, he lives down the block