Searchers recover 2nd body after rockfall near Canada's Banff National Park hiking trail

CALGARY, Alberta — Search teams located a 2nd assemblage Friday pursuing a massive rockfall disconnected a hiking way successful Canada’s Banff National Park.

The University of Alberta confirmed 1 of the 2 radical killed successful the rockfall successful Banff National Park was retired pedagogue Jutta Hinrichs, who was a person successful the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Parks Canada officials accidental she was 70 and lived successful Calgary.

The descent happened Thursday day northbound of Lake Louise connected the Icefields Parkway, astir 124 miles northwest of Calgary. It is besides astir 85 miles from the tract of the Group of Seven summit held successful Kananaskis, Alberta, this week.

Three others were taken to the infirmary and were reported successful unchangeable condition.

Officials said nary 1 other has been reported missing and determination are nary unidentified vehicles astatine the trailhead.

The way runs on the edges of Bow Lake and is considered a mean situation for hikers and is utilized by tourists and day-trippers, including families. It’s a portion with constricted cellular service.

Niclas Brundell, a way usher who lives successful adjacent Canmore, said helium was hiking successful the country with his woman Thursday erstwhile they some started seeing concerning signs of rocks tumbling and boulders the size of tires starting to fall.

“This was unimaginable to me, that specified a large portion of upland would autumn off,” helium said. As rocks started rolling astatine the apical of the waterfall, helium said, they didn’t deed anyone, but helium and his woman wondered wherefore cipher seemed to beryllium reacting.

“Then each of a sudden, I perceive the commencement of different rockfall, and I crook around, and the full mountainside is coming off.”

He said the slab seemed astir 50 meters (164 feet) wide and 20 meters (60 feet) deep, and helium and his woman started sprinting.

When helium turned around, helium could spot a radical of betwixt 15 and 30 radical astatine the waterfall vanish nether a unreality of dust.

“The lone spot I’ve ever seen thing akin is similar watching videos from 9-11, erstwhile you spot New York being formed over,” helium said.

He said determination was a roar, “and I conscionable didn’t spot them anymore.”

Brundell said erstwhile they got acold capable to consciousness safe, helium sent a outer connection to Parks Canada, portion his woman ran to a adjacent lodge to telephone for help.

He said it’s a fashionable way due to the fact that it’s considered comparatively easy, and connected immoderate fixed summertime time determination are 15 radical oregon much hiking the trail.