On March 5th, 2024 at about 2:06 PM, emergency personnel and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive adult male at Mount Bachelor Ski Resort. The reported individual had been located in the West Bowl ski area.
While emergency resources responded, a citizen began performing life-saving techniques for the unresponsive individual, including CPR. Mount Bachelor Ski Patrol and Bend Fire Medics continued to provide emergency medical care as the subject was transported to the Mt. Bachelor onsite medical facility. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
The initial investigation performed by the Sheriff’s Office has determined the following details:
The deceased subject was identified as Bend resident Robert Douglas Harrington, 58 years of age. Mr. Harrington was an avid skier and was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. Mr. Harrington had initially accessed the Northwest Express lift and was discovered unresponsive by a citizen approximately 30 minutes later. Mr. Harrington was found to be suffering from the effects of snow immersion suffocation.
The Deschutes County Medical Examiner assisted with the investigation and their findings were consistent with snow immersion suffocation. There was no evidence of trauma to Mr. Harrington and his helmet was not damaged.
