Long Island man died after snowboarding fall at American Dream's Big Snow, report says
A 24-year-old Long Island man died last week after falling while snowboarding at Big Snow at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, according to a Newsday report.
The family of Peter Mathews, of Bay Shore, New York, told Newsday that he fell backward on Thursday night while snowboarding, hit his head and became unconscious. The family told the newspaper that Mathews was wearing a helmet and other safety gear. He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
In a statement, Big Snow representatives said: “We can confirm that our ski patrol responded to a guest incident last Thursday evening. First aid was administered, and the guest was transported to a local hospital for further care. In the interest of the guest’s privacy, no additional information will be provided. Our thoughts are with this guest’s family at this time.”
A New Jersey State Police spokesperson said that "at approximately 9:14 p.m., troopers responded to American Dream Big Snow for the report of an unresponsive male who was snowboarding. When troopers arrived, EMS was on scene providing first aid. He was then transported to an area hospital."
Mathews had been an airman first class in the Maryland Air National Guard since 2020. He was a crew chief assigned to the 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
In a Facebook post for Maryland's 175th Wing, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Golabiewski said: “Peter was genuinely an amazing person, and his smile lit up the room. If you had a chance to talk to him, you knew instantly he had a remarkable future and was destined for greatness."
Golabiewski added that Mathews was "in the process of following in his father’s footsteps to become a pilot."
The 175th Wing wrote in its social media post that Mathews was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for his work earlier this year during two U.S. Army Europe-led exercises in Eastern Europe.
Mathews is survived by his parents, Roy and Susmy, and two sisters, Sarah and Grace, Gospel Missions of India posted. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to Gospel Missions of India.
Visitation will be held at Moloney's Bohemia Funeral Home in Bohemia, New York, on Saturday and Sunday, followed by a service on Monday morning and burial in Calverton National Cemetery, according to his obituary.
Big Snow reopened in May after a fire at the facility in September 2021.
Big Snow, a 16-story, 180,000-square-foot ski and snowboard park, bills itself as "America’s only indoor, year-round, real-snow ski and snowboard resort."
The Meadowlands megamall and entertainment complex has endured decades of financial troubles, a pandemic and other headaches. American Dream posted a nearly $60 million loss in 2021, according to financial reports.
Staff writer Liam Quinn contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: American Dream mall: Man dies after snowboarding at Big Snow
