Seattle Man Dies After Getting Buried in the Snow on Oregon Mountain: 'Heartbreaking Loss'

03/18/2025 04:40 PM

Benjamin Shelkey died after he was found having been suffocated by the snow on Mount Bachelor on Monday, March 17, authorities said

A Seattle man has died after he was found buried in the snow on the side of a mountain at a ski resort in Oregon, authorities said.

Benjamin Shelkey, 34, was discovered unresponsive on the west side of Mount Bachelor on the afternoon of Monday, March 17, according to a press release from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. He was found buried headfirst in a tree well, The Seattle Times added. 

He later died of his injuries after he was transported for medical care, according to the sheriff's office. While the cause of Shelkey's death has not been determined, "the circumstances are consistent with snow immersion suffocation," the department said.

The Deschutes County Medical Examiner's Office declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation and the privacy of the family.

Lieutenant Nathan Garibay, Special Services and SAR Coordinator, told PEOPLE in a statement that when "somebody skis into a tree well, they can find themselves in a situation where they cannot rescue themselves." If the individual becomes inverted when stuck in the tree well, it "would lead to potentially a snow suffocation," per authorities.

"On behalf of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and the Central Oregon community, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Benjamin Shelkey," Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said, according to the aforementioned sheriff's department release. "This is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts are with those who knew and loved him."

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Authorities were first alerted about the medical emergency after other people on the mountain sent a text message, describing a "trapped and injured person in steep terrain." The people on the scene spent approximately 15-20 minutes to free Shelkey before administering CPR with instructions from 911 dispatchers, according to the sheriff's office. 

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After ski patrollers arrived on the scene, Shelkey was transported to a local clinic. 

The incident has caused authorities to urge people to be careful when pursuing outdoor activities.

"Tragedies like this remind us of the risks of outdoor recreation, and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions when venturing into deep snow conditions," the sheriff's office said in their press release, which was further echoed in Lieutenant Garibay's statement to PEOPLE.

"The big thing is that we really encourage people to be aware of conditions, tell people where they're going, ski with a partner, if possible, or ski in groups," Garibay noted. "That definitely allows, if you get yourself in a situation... somebody might be able to assist you, or witness the situation and be able to get help."

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The National Ski Areas Association warns about the danger of deep snow and tree wells. Such natural occurrences can cause accidents when a skier falls into an area of "deep unconsolidated snow," leading to potential entrapment and suffocation. 

"ALWAYS ski or ride with a partner within viewing distance," the association advises.