A veteran ski patroller who was hurt in an avalanche at California’s Mammoth Mountain has died, the ski resort shared with “profound sorrow” Sunday night.
Cole Murphy, 30, suffered serious injuries when he was caught in the snowslide Friday morning and was transported off the mountain for care.
Murphy, an experienced ski patroller responsible for mountain safety and emergency medical care, later died from his injuries, according to a statement from Mammoth Mountain officials.
Murphy’s family said he died doing what he loved.
“The mountain was where Cole felt most alive. It was his place of purpose, his community, and his second home. Serving on ski patrol wasn’t just a role for him—it was a calling,” the family said in a statement.
“To his ski patrol family, the ones who worked beside him, had confidence in him, and shared a bond shaped by snow, service, and unwavering camaraderie: thank you for loving him as one of your own.”
Meanwhile, another ski patroller underwent successful surgery at Mammoth Hospital and is recovering from his injuries, according to officials.
Social media was flooded with messages of support for Murphy before his death, and urged the public to recognize the great risk ski patrollers take on every day to ensure the mountain is safe for employees and visitors.
“Without the job that ski patroller’s perform there would be an endless cascade of catastrophic incidents, more than you could ever predict or anyone could actually imagine,” one user said on the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Alumni Association Facebook page.
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