6 skiers survive avalanche in Canada

WHISTLER, British Columbia, March 19 (UPI) -- Six backcountry skiers survived an avalanche Tuesday on Canada's Spearman Glacier, police said.

Staff Sgt. Steve Leclair of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said one skier was buried for about 4 minutes before his companions extricated him, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The buried skier was unconscious when pulled out of the snow and had to be resuscitated.

He was evacuated by air to a Whistler hospital. Rescuers were helping the others to safety, the CBC said.

The RCMP said the avalanche occurred in the Corona Bowl area near the Spearhead Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park, northeast of Blackcomb Mountain. The group of skiers contacted the Blackcomb ski patrol about 11:20 a.m.