2 skiers killed in Utah avalanche accident, 1 rescued after digging himself out

Two skiers have died and a third has been rescued after an avalanche near Lone Peak, Utah.

On Thursday, May 9, the Utah Avalanche Center confirmed the two deaths in the mountains outside Salt Lake City Statement about X (formerly known as Twitter).

The nonprofit said the third member was “transported from the mountain and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.”

“Recovery efforts have been suspended for today and will resume tomorrow,” the statement continued.

“The Utah Avalanche Center will continue to gather information and share additional details as they become available. Our condolences go out to everyone affected by today’s tragic accident,” the statement concluded.

According to KUTV, the BBC and CBS News, the victims were two men, ages 23 and 32. According to KUTV, one of the men was local while the other was visiting from another state.

The media added that rescue workers responded at around 10:30 a.m. local time to reports that the skiers were stuck in the avalanche near Little Cottonwood Canyon. About two hours later, a Life Flight helicopter was seen taking a person off the mountain.

The man reportedly managed to free himself from the avalanche before being rescued, according to KUTV. He is in good condition and is now being treated. Rescuers will continue the search for the two dead on May 10.

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According to UAV forecaster Craig Gordon, several feet of heavy, wet snow had fallen in the area in recent days, according to the BBC.

The most recent avalanche fatality listed by the Utah Avalanche Center occurred on April 17, 2023 in the city of Brighton.

The Greater Salt Lake Area Unified Police Department, the Utah Avalanche Center and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.