'Saved her life': Utah hiker dies under ice column after pushing fellow climber out of way, officials say
A 41-year-old hiker died in Utah after a massive ice column fell and trapped her Sunday, local authorities said.
The hiker managed to shove a 21-year-old climber out of column’s way before it fell, and “probably saved her life,” according to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office.
“This female was able to climb down the terrain and drive to Duchesne City to contact 911 for help,” officials said.
A third hiker was with the group, which had been trying to scale Raven Falls, a frozen waterfall, near Indian Canyon, which is a two hour drive southeast of Salt Lake City.
That hiker, a 34-year-old man, fell roughly 40 feet and sustained serious injuries when the ice column broke off. Officials did not provide an update on the third hiker's condition Tuesday
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Several law enforcement and rescue agencies worked for hours to recover the 41-year-old hiker’s body from under the ice.
“Our sincere condolences… to the family of this brave, courageous woman who lost her life while saving another,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a post.
Sunday’s accident happened as a winter storm moving through the area blanketed other parts of Utah with heavy snow.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah woman dead after saving fellow hiker from falling ice column
