CALGARY — A man and woman were killed Wednesday in an avalanche while backcountry heli-skiing south of Nelson, B.C.

Nelson RCMP were notified around 10 a.m. of a slide in the Bonnington Mountain Range involving a group of four skiers led by a guide with the Snowwater heli-ski company.

RCMP then notified members of Nelson Search and Rescue, who were later stood down after it was determined Snowwater guides would be able to respond, rescue and remove the group, said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

“The outfitter had a couple of other groups on the mountain in the immediate area who had witnessed the slide. The five guides with those other groups were able to assist the group (in trouble),” Moskaluk said.

The guide and one of the skiers freed themselves and dug out the remaining three skiers.

One of those skiers, a man, was confirmed as deceased. A second skier, a woman, was recovered unresponsive and suffering from life-threatening injuries. She later died.

The guide and two surviving skiers were taken to medical facilities with minor injuries, Moskaluk said.

No further details — including the hometowns of the skiers and their ages — were provided.

Snowwater president Patric Maloney confirmed in a news release that one of their guides and four guests had been caught in an avalanche early Wednesday.

“I commend our staff and guests for their part in executing the rescue,” Maloney said. “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and survivors.”

The slide was classified as a 3.5 out of five, which the Canadian Avalanche Centre considers large enough to “bury and destroy a car, damage a small truck, destroy a small building or break a few trees.”

Nelson Rural RCMP continues its investigation, along with the B.C. Coroners Service.

There have been numerous reports of very large avalanches over the past month, including three others involving fatalities.

Calgarian David Ng, 32, died while backcountry skiing in the Ghost Peak region of Revelstoke on March 11.

Conditions were so hazardous at the time that his body and surviving five companions could not be brought out by helicopter until two days later, despite two attempts.

Steven Burke Hall, 33, of Birchcliff, north of Sylvan Lake, was killed March 9 in an avalanche near Sparwood, B.C., while on his snowmobile.

A 44-year old Squamish, B.C., man was killed by an avalanche while snowboarding south of Whistler on March 6.

There has been nine avalanche-related deaths in B.C. so far this winter.

With files from Meghan Potkins, Calgary Herald

cho@calgaryherald.com

There have been numerous reports of very large avalanches over the past month, including three others involving fatalities.

Calgarian David Ng, 32, died while backcountry skiing in the Ghost Peak region of Revelstoke on March 11.

Conditions were so hazardous at the time that his body and his five companions could not be brought out by helicopter two days later, despite two attempts.

Steven Burke Hall, 33, of Birchcliff, north of Sylvan Lake, was killed in an avalanche near Sparwood, B.C., on March 9 while on his snowmobile.

A 44-year old Squamish, B.C., man was killed by an avalanche while snowboarding south of Whistler on March 6.

There has been a total nine avalanche-related deaths in B.C. so far this winter.