A Whistler, B.C. man was killed Wednesday morning in a ski accident in the Haines Pass.

The tragedy occurred at around 10:40 a.m., Atlin RCMP told the Star today.

“Atlin Search and Rescue (ASR) attended and conducted body recovery,” said Atlin RCMP Const. Patrick Russell.

The skiing party was taking on extreme slopes, Atlin Search and Rescue volunteer Philippe Brient said in an interview early this afternoon.

It appears that at some point, the man lost control of his skis on a very steep hill and fell off a cliff, Brient told the Star.

The drop was about nine metres (30 feet), he said.

It triggered a small slide, which was enough to bury him.

His friends rushed to dig him out, but the man was already dead, Brient said.

The group used snow machines to get to the top of the hill before skiing down.

Within 2 1/2 hours of receiving the group’s distress signal, search and rescue volunteers were on scene.

Brient noted it took some time to fly to the location, about 167 kilometres northwest of Atlin.

ASR members are also volunteers, and were called at work.

The accident occurred on the Canadian side of the Haines Pass.

The man’s identity hasn’t been released yet.

According to a message the Atlin Search and Rescue Association posted on its Facebook page, the accident happened not far from the Fairweather Mountain.

“The victim was well-trained and well equipped,” the association wrote.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family and friends of the victim.”

The B.C. Coroner Services indicated to the Star that an investigation into the man’s death will be conducted.

The body was flown to Atlin.