Skier rescued from Mount Baker after falling into crevasse

BELLINGHAM – Authorities said a 58-year-old British Columbia man was rescued from Mount Baker after he fell into a deep crevasse while skiing.

The Bellingham Herald reported Ronald Veperts was coming down Coleman Glacier on Sunday afternoon when he fell into a 60-foot crevasse.

He was treated at a Bellingham hospital and then transferred to another facility. Hospital officials didn’t know where he was taken.

Whatcom County Undersheriff Jeff Parks said the man’s group got him out of the crevasse but he wasn’t able to move beyond that.

Parks said Veperts was in stable condition when transported but thought to have possible head, rib and wrist injuries.

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station spokesman Mike Welding said the incident occurred at the 9,000-foot level of the 10,781-foot active volcano.

The crew of an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter dropped rescuers to raise Veperts.