Solitude Mountain Resort. Photo: Derek Peterson/Twitter
On Monday night, according to Salt Lake media, 37-year-old Devon O’Connell of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, was reported missing. He had gone to nearby Solitude Mountain Resort with a friend early Monday and was expected back home by 2 p.m., prompting his wife to call Solitude Ski Patrol around 6:30 p.m. According to local police, O’Connell’s friend left around 10:30 a.m. while O’Connell stayed back to get on a ski lift for another run around noon, which was the last time he was seen.
Salt Lake County search and rescue efforts included both Solitude Mountain and Brighton ski patrols and UPD Canyon Patrol. They canvassed the mountain using drones until harsh weather conditions forced them to temporarily shut down their search at around 1:30 a.m., Tuesday. They returned at 7 a.m. and found his body about an hour later just off of the Sensation ski run in some trees, according to a UPD spokesperson. Although an official cause of death wasn’t announced, the resort did say O’Connell was wearing a helmet and his body was found with “injuries that suggest impact.”
Editor’s Note: Devon leaves behind a wife and five-year-old daughter. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for his family. You can find that here.
