Missing skier found dead after search at Solitude
Dec 13, 2022, 8:31 AM | Updated: Dec 15, 2022, 12:15 pm
BY JOSH ELLIS AND KARAH BRACKIN, KSL TV
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — Search and rescue crews on Tuesday located the body of a skier who was reported missing Monday night.
"He was found at about 8:15 (a.m.), just off of the Sensation ski run in some trees," said Unified Police Department spokesperson Melody Cutler.
The skier, identified as 37-year-old Devon O'Connell, of Cottonwood Heights, had gone up to Solitude to ski on Monday with a friend. Police said the friend left around 10:30 a.m. while the skier hopped on a ski lift for another run around noon.
Police said O'Connell was last seen on a ski lift around noon Monday.
He was expected to return home by 2 p.m. but when that didn't happen, his wife called Solitude Ski Patrol.
Salt Lake County search and rescue, Solitude and Brighton ski patrols plus UPD's Canyon Patrol were called out to begin the search Monday night.
Now @UPDSL tell #KSLTV the skier has been found dead https://t.co/eeo4L38VM6
— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) December 13, 2022
Search and rescue crews said O'Connell's car was found at a Solitude parking lot and his cell phone pinged to a location on the mountain.
Crews dealt with rough conditions overnight and paused all search efforts around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The search resumed just before 7 a.m. and O'Connell's body was found around an hour later. Cutler said O'Connell was known to be an expert skier and was wearing a helmet.
A GoFundMe* page has been set up to help with funeral expenses.
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.