An 11-year-old girl from Massachusetts has been identified as the young skier who died after being caught in an avalanche near Brighton Ski Resort, authorities confirmed. The tragic incident unfolded Thursday afternoon and prompted a large-scale rescue response in the mountainous terrain outside Salt Lake City.
According to the Unified Police Department, the avalanche was reported at approximately 12:29 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the Rock Garden area near Brighton. Initial information indicated that one person had been buried in the snow. By 12:32 p.m., Unified Police and Unified Fire had established a joint command and began coordinating additional emergency resources to respond to the rapidly developing situation.
Rescue crews moved quickly. Wasatch Backcountry Rescue — which includes ski patrol teams from Brighton and Solitude — immediately launched search efforts. Officials said the girl’s family, along with more than 20 bystanders, began digging through the snow in a desperate attempt to find her. Her brother, Cameron Eitas, used a mobile phone app to help pinpoint her location beneath the avalanche debris, aiding rescuers in narrowing the search area.
Once she was located, multiple agencies worked together to provide lifesaving care on the mountain. Air medical crews responded to the scene; however, due to safety concerns and flight risks in the steep and unstable terrain, helicopter transport was not possible. First responders continued advanced life support efforts at the scene before transporting the child by ambulance to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Despite what officials described as tremendous and exhaustive efforts by family members, rescuers, and medical staff, the young skier later succumbed to her injuries. The emotional rescue attempt left a lasting impact on witnesses and first responders, many of whom worked tirelessly in challenging winter conditions to save her life.
Authorities identified the victim as Madelyn Eitas, 11, of Rochester, Massachusetts. Police extended their condolences to her family and encouraged both the Utah and Massachusetts communities to keep them in their thoughts during this devastating time. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can exist in mountainous winter environments.
