Child airlifted from Wintergreen after injury on slopes

A child was airlifted from Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County Saturday after sustaining injuries while skiing on the slopes.

Wintergreen Ski Patrol said it responded to a report of an injured 8-year-old girl on Lower Sunrise, an intermediate ski trail, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

“The skier didn’t present with injury symptoms at the time of the incident, but was taken by Wintergreen Ski Patrol to the Ski Patrol First Aid Room for precautionary observations,” Wintergreen said in a statement sent to The Daily Progress Sunday.

After further observation, it was decided the girl should be evacuated.

“The patient was transported by a Wintergreen Fire & Rescue ambulance to the helicopter pad in Stoney Creek and flown by an air ambulance to UVA Medical Center,” Wintergreen said in its statement.

Witnesses reported seeing a University of Virginia Pegasus, a helicopter employed by the hospital for emergency air service, touch down at the Stoney Creek development in nearby Nellysford.

“The patient is expected to make a full recovery,” Wintergreen said Sunday.

Injuries on Wintergreen’s slopes are rare, according to the resort’s general manager, Jay Gamble.

“While injuries requiring air ambulances at Wintergreen are rare, all of our on-mountain Ski Patrol staff complete exhaustive preparatory training to address any incidents that may arise” Gamble is quoted in the resort’s statement. “Their careful observation of this patient instead of allowing her to leave is a testament to the high level of care and professionalism of our Ski Patrol staff.”

Neither Wintergreen Resort nor the private law enforcement offices employed there would provide any additional details or comments on the incident to The Daily Progress.

The resort has benefitted from colder temperatures and snowier weather this year after last year’s balmy winter; Wintergreen had its shortest ski season ever last year, totaling only about 68 days. This winter, the resort has been more popular and slopes have seen more traffic on weekends.

Source: www.dailyprogress.com