Pro freeskier killed falling into a crevasse
An outpouring of love and support is being shown to the family of professional freeskier Dave Treadway, who was killed Monday when a snow bridge collapsed and he fell 100 feet into a crevasse while backcountry skiing on Rhododendron Mountain in British Columbia.
A GoFundMe campaign for Treadway’s pregnant wife Tessa and two sons, Kasper and Raffi, surpassed $184,000 before noon Thursday. The page is filled with kind words and condolences. Tessa is due on July 4.
“Dave was a passionate individual whose achievements in the mountains were only outweighed by his desire to show others the love of God,” the GoFundMe page said. “He did this by serving as a youth leader in his community and by leading as a professional skiing role model.”
Photo courtesy of Dave Treadway GoFundMe page.
A Pemberton District Search and Rescue team responded to the scene after Treadway fell, but he was unresponsive when rescuers finally reached him, according to SAR. Treadway died from the trauma.
“The extraction from the crevasse was a very technical operation for the team,” David MacKenzie SAR Manager said in a statement. “A second team from Whistler SAR was dispatched to provide assistance to the Pemberton team.”
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Tim Grey, who launched the fundraiser for the Treadway family since the skier didn’t have life insurance, wrote on Dave Treadway’s website that a celebration of life will be held Monday April 22. He also issued an update on how Tessa was doing.
“Tessa is an amazing person,” Grey wrote. “She’s mostly calm, caring of others (as usual) and as level headed as I’ve seen her, considering the circumstances. Tessa lost her mom to cancer less than three years ago and she’s used that experience while dealing with Dave’s passing. She continues to be strong for the boys and others.”
Treadway’s death came just over nine years since he had to retrieve the body of good friend and ski buddy Jack Hannan, who died in an avalanche on Mount Currie. Hannan and Treadway were skiing together, with their partners, at the time and had been flown to the location.
In a March 31 Instagram, Treadway said he camped by a river so he could see the mountain where Hannan died. “I’m encouraged to chase after life and really LIVE as I smile up at the mountain and remember the twinkle in his eye saying, ‘Come on, let’s go adventure!’ Sure miss ya bud.”
Treadway was 34.
Photo courtesy of the Dave Treadway GoFundMe page.