A ski patroller tragically lost his life after being engulfed by an avalanche at Mammoth Mountain in California. The incident occurred as he was working to ensure a ski route was safe for visitors.

On Friday morning, Cole Murphy, 30, sustained fatal injuries while performing his duties at the Mammoth Lakes resort, which was not open to the public at the time.

Following a significant snowstorm, Murphy, a seasoned skier, was involved in avalanche control efforts on Lincoln Mountain, which had been blanketed with fresh snow.

Unfortunately, during their mission to mitigate the risk of avalanches for future guests, Murphy and a colleague were caught in a deadly snow slide around 7:30 am.

Both patrollers were promptly taken to a local hospital, as reported by Mammoth Mountain. Murphy, who suffered critical injuries, was transferred to another medical facility, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The other worker, whose identity has not been publicly released, remained at the first hospital and was treated for several broken bones. He underwent a successful surgery on Saturday and is in recovery.  

Mammoth Mountain was shut down from Friday until Sunday, with officials noting that the area had been slammed with five feet of snow since December 23. 

‘We have received heavy snowfall and high winds over the last several days,’ the resort shared online on Saturday. 

Ski patroller Cole Murphy, 30, died after being struck by an avalanche while trying to make the mountain safer for visitors

Lincoln Mountain is roughly 10,100 feet tall and is characterized by its challenging terrain

While confirming Murphy’s death, Mammoth Mountain also posted a statement from his grieving family. 

His loved ones described him as kind, caring and devoted to his family and career. 

‘The mountain was where Cole felt most alive. It was his place of purpose, his community and his second home,’ the message reads. 

‘Serving on ski patrol wasn’t just a role for him – it was his calling.’

His relatives said that his partner, Hayley, was the ‘center of Cole’s heart’ and that the pair often embarked on adventures together.

‘Cole also held his family close, meeting life with an easy smile, a generous spirit and a warmth that drew people in wherever he went,’ the statement reads. 

Mammoth Mountain was significantly impacted by an atmospheric river storm that hit regions across the Golden State last week. 

According to the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), an atmospheric river storm is a band of water vapor that moves across the atmosphere.

‘Much like a river is water moving over land, an atmospheric river is a stream of water moving in the sky,’ NESDIS wrote. 

Murphy (seen in 2021) adored his family and his career, with his loved ones describing ski patrolling as his ‘calling’ 

Murphy’s family wrote a heartbreaking statement announcing his death 

This kind of storm can cause heavy rain and snow, as well as strong winds and flooding. 

Murphy’s untimely death comes about 10 months after another Mammoth Mountain ski patroller met the same fate. 

Clare Murphy, 25, passed away after being caught in an avalanche on Lincoln Mountain on February 14. 

She was also performing avalanche mitigation when the tragedy struck.  

Located on the border of Yosemite National Park in the eastern Sierra Nevada, Mammoth Mountain is California’s highest lift-served ski resort. 

VisitMammoth, the official tourism website for Mammoth Lakes, states that Lincoln Mountain is a volcanic dome located northeast of the Mammoth Mountain summit. 

The ‘precipitous avalanche chutes’ on its northern face are remnants of a 500-meter-by-350-meter landslide that left a horseshoe-shaped bowl. 

Lincoln Mountain is roughly 10,100 feet tall and is characterized by its challenging terrain.