Idaho doctor, accomplished outdoorsman, dies in avalanche while skiing Lost River Range

Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) – An Idaho emergency expert and adventurous outdoorsman died Friday aft being buried successful an avalanche while skiing portion of nan state’s tallest upland range.

Dr. Terrence “Terry” O’Connor, 48, of Ketchum, was skiing connected Donaldson Peak successful nan Lost River Range erstwhile he triggered an avalanche astatine astir 11,600 feet elevation. According to nan Sawtooth Avalanche Center’s explanation of nan incident, O’Connor was caught successful a mini avalanche that carried him downhill, burying him successful nan snow. The first avalanche triggered a second, larger avalanche.

The Sawtooth Avalanche Center said O’Connor’s skiing partner, who has not been identified publicly, called for thief connected a outer connection instrumentality earlier utilizing a transceiver instrumentality to find O’Connor successful nan snow. She was capable to excavation O’Connor retired of respective feet of snowfall and execute CPR earlier hunt and rescue arrived.

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O’Connor is nan 3rd personification to dice successful an avalanche successful Idaho this year, according to nan Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

O’Connor worked arsenic an emergency room expert astatine nan St. Luke’s Wood River Valley location successful Hailey. He was often a root of accusation and encouragement during nan COVID-19 pandemic, which deed Blaine County difficult erstwhile nan coronavirus first came to Idaho. Later, he applauded nan organization for having immoderate of nan highest vaccination rates successful nan country.

O’Connor was besides a chap of nan American College of Emergency Physicians, a erstwhile Blaine County/Sawtooth Regional Emergency Medical Services head and personnel of nan Idaho EMS Physician Commission.

“Terry was an outstanding expert and played a pivotal domiciled successful nan early days of nan COVID pandemic, really demonstrating nan nationalist wellness domiciled of nan EMS aesculapian head wrong a community,” nan Idaho EMS Physician Commission said successful a Facebook station Saturday. “His nonaccomplishment will beryllium missed not only successful nan vale itself but passim nan full authorities and region.”

O’Connor was progressive successful wilderness emergency medicine and held a Diploma successful Mountain Medicine from nan Wilderness Medical Society.

“Words cannot statesman to definitive nan kindness he bestowed, sacrifices he made, and nan effect he had connected nan emergency and wilderness medicine communities he was a portion of,” nan Wilderness Medical Society said successful a Facebook post.

He volunteered arsenic a objective module personnel school wilderness and biology medicine astatine nan University of Colorado’s Department of Emergency Medicine. He besides oversaw nan University of Colorado’s certificate programme successful ambiance medicine, which teaches clinicians really to reside nan wellness implications of ambiance change.

O’Connor was an knowledgeable backcountry skier, runner and upland climber, among different activities. He moreover wrote a blog station for University of Colorado connected avalanche safety. A St. Luke’s article connected O’Connor elaborate his trips climbing Mt. Everest and his TEDx Talk connected outdoor adventure, which reflected connected nan inherent dangers successful galore of nan activities he loved. In it, he memorialized a adjacent friend and climbing partner who died successful an avalanche successful nan Canadian Rocky Mountains successful 2006.

St. Luke’s besides noted O’Connor’s activity successful countries for illustration Nepal and India, wherever he traveled to supply aesculapian attraction to group successful need.