Parents of snowboarder lost in Austrian crevasse in 1989 pursue 20-year quest for facts

A snowHead

On 9 August 1989 a Canadian ice hockey player called Duncan MacPherson went up to the Stubai glacier in Austria for a snowboarding lesson. He was later seen practising on the glacier. He was never seen alive again.

On 18 July 2003 - 14 years after his disappearance - a body was found on the same glacier, apparently preserved in a crevasse. It was identified as Duncan's. [2003 was an exceptionally hot summer in Europe.]

Initially, Duncan's friends and family had no idea where he was. A car parked at the base area of the glacier was eventually traced to a friend who had lent it to him in Nuremberg, but this was six weeks after he had vanished. The snowboard instructor then recognised a photo of Duncan and this seemed to confirm that he disappeared on the mountain. That identification took place on 22 September 1989.

His parents are reportedly bitter at the response of the Austrian authorities to their son's demise, and assert that no proper post-mortem was carried out in 2003. They have reportedly spent their life savings on nine investigatory trips to Austria and other work. They discovered that a student from Hong Kong had fallen into a nearby crevasse one year earlier (i.e. 1988). They have spent 20 years trying to piece together the facts and prevent another disaster. According to Planetski.eu they recently took their grievances to the European Court of Human Rights.

This report from Planetski.eu:
http://www.planetski.eu/news/401

Timeline of Duncan MacPherson (CBC News):
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/iceman/timeline.html

Timeline of Duncan MacPherson (Planetski.eu):
http://www.planetski.eu/news/402

On the surface it seems fairly straightforward. The Austrian authorities could have been more proactive. Duncan's family were unlucky that he hadn't left a clear trace of his movements.

Is there more to it? Should a full post-mortem/inquest have taken place?

Have you noticed deficiencies in piste boundary markings on the Stubai glacier? [I was up there about three times in the 1980s and don't recall any safety issues, but admittedly it was a long long time ago].

[Please be sensitive in posting comment on this case. Duncan's family might read this thread]

A snowHead

David Goldsmith, I think they should let the thing go. 20 years? The true facts will never be determined after such a time lapse. Looks like this unfortunate accident is consuming their lives. All the effort in the world won't bring their son back. As for posting sensitivity - the thread title makes it pretty clear what the discussion is likely to be about. They don't have to open it to see the content. If you really were worried, you should not have opened this thread.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

David Goldsmith, It is clearly stated in multiple languages at the bottom lifts up on to the glaciers that it is not safe to leave the prepared pistes when skiing on glaciers unless accompanied by a qualified guide. They cannot set boundaries as they will move with the glacier. I've skied on glaciers for ages (Ötzi was an early ski buddy it's been so long), and the first thing I was taught was never to leave the prepared pistes unless I was following a qualified guide instructor with all the gubbings!

I agree with achilles, they should move on, mourn their loss and let it go. I also agree with Achilles on your request for sensitivity. Why post this if you were not looking to stir up a discussion? The nature of these things is that they become controversial.

He made a mistake and a cascade of events led to no-one knowing he was missing until it was too late to find him. At least with a body they have some closure. Sad but probably unavoidable. It was summer and glaciers have a dreadful habit of melting and moving in summer. The Austrian authorities had no chance of finding his body after 6 weeks - where on earth would they start to look?

I think this is a sad example of where people hope to apportion blame where none can be, except maybe on the dead man. I hope the parents are able to come to terms with their loss. But going down the litigation path, I suspect will not help them, financially or emotionally.

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I agree with the previous 2 posters, closure is what they had been subliminally searching for and when a body was found in 2003 that should have been the end of it for them. Campaigning for greater safety on the slopes is a lost cause. Ultimately, skiing and snowboarding are dangerous activities and those taking part should know the risks involved.
A post mortem on a body that has fallen down a crevasse is only going to uncover whether he died from a broken neck or severe head trauma, when it comes down to it, he fell down a hole and died. A post mortem wont change that, it'll only uncover the brutal truths which only those with morbid obsession or those clutching at straws will want to know.
Put it to bed and let it lie...

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

That is a horrible story. Puts me off skiing Glaciers thinkig that you could fall down a big hole and die.

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skolaYou shouldn't be skiing proper crevasse type glacial areas without ropes, harnesses, trancievers and a guide who knows EXACTLY what they are doing. These areas are all off piste, don't let glacial skiing on piste worry you, it's only straying off the beaten path that will put you in danger of crevasses.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

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pam w,

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Hi everyone.

I'm a little shocked at peoples lack of knowledge on this subject. Perhaps one should do some more reading about the case before making statements. Perhaps watch the documentary and read the info here: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/iceman - it's highly accurate except for one very glaring misrepresentation which I'll address later.

Anyways, just to address all posted here without me quoting and referring directly to you - Duncan was on a controlled surface, that was licensed for recreational use in the summer. It's a small glacier, it's groomed daily and has been open for summer skiing for many years. Much like Whistler's much larger glacier. The quest is not so much about facts, it's much more about exposing the cover up of his death. From very early on there has been a seemingly systematic cover up at every turn. TRUE outdoor people, would understand that it's FAR more important to ACCEPT there was a mistake, and have an open investigation so that it will NEVER happen again. To think that his car sat in the parking lot for 6 weeks. That his snowboard was returned according to the rental shop, who destroyed their log book 3 weeks after he went missing, which coincides with the first missing person reports, and when he was found the board was with him. How would you feel if that was you in that situation, and that perhaps you were out with rental gear that wasn't returned, wouldn't you want someone to look for you? My girlfriend worked for a few years here in Vancouver at a local hill, and it was a very serious matter if a board wasn't returned at the end of the day, they would send people to check the bar/caferteria and look for the person because if they didn't find them soon a search team was sent out. This has saved lives.

Duncan was killed not by falling into a deep crevice, as the documentary seems to imply, he probably fell into a shallow crevice, and was mostly below the surface, when the grooming machine came along, ran him over, injured him severely, and buried him. The pictures and xrays of the body show this evidence. The mountain has a license to operate based on certain things - one of those is that if an open crevice is found, it is to be visually inspected then filled in. This is not what is done. They fill them in immediately, or they groom the glacier at the end of the day without a close inspection. When his body was found, the police report that went out reported him as 120 meters East of the chair, which is well out of bounds, but in reality he was found right in the middle of the run, 35 meters from the chair - see the map at http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/iceman/map.html

How do I know all this? Duncan is my brother. We've very much dealt with his death, acceptance is the last stage of grief. Now what we would like is that these circumstances will never happen again. I spend a lot of time snowboarding and would want this done for me as I'm sure you would of yourself or family and friends. Any questions about any facts please feel free to ask.

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gribbler,

Hi, 1st can I say that I am really sorry for your loss, that is not just a glib statement and I am, as I think everyone on this forum is, sorry that you have suffered that loss of your brother.

I just want to add 3 points.

Wayne,

You know it makes sense.

gribbler, my condolences for your loss. Losing a brother like that must be grim.

For the rest, I'd pretty much go along with what Wayne and PJSki have already said. I'm not sure what you mean by TRUE mountain people - a lot of folk here have been in the mountains a lot - and not just skiing - some of them disagreeing with you does not change that. It's not occurred to me that if I was on rental skis and they were not returned at the end of a rental period, that a search party would be organized for me. And I have discovered in life that it is almost impossible for accidents to NEVER happen again. They do - though the risk of them recurring can sometimes be reduced.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

The timeline story posted by OP shows a catalogue of indifference to the search of missing person. Much of the discoveries were reported as the results of the victim's parrent effort.

Here is one point I am sure every snowhead would like to get clarified.

There seems to be two reports of location the body of the victim discovered.

A snowHead

Don't forget glaciers are moving things, whether the body was found 120m or 35m east of a lift that wouldn't have been where it started from 4 years earlier.

A snowHead

The hurt felt by a family when a member dies in anything other than "standard" circumstances (old age, illness, etc) is often exacerbated by questions such as "what happened", "how did this happen", "who is responsible", etc. In some cases that natural inclination to find out the facts can be caught up with the thought that someone must pay for our loss. I'm not talking about money here, although this is becoming more prevalent. I'm speaking of the need to have retribution. The desire to see someone suffer for your loss is not cathartic it is destructive and every case.

Of course this is often bundled with phrase such as "to make sure it doesn't happen to other people", to I'm doing this for the greater good", "I don't want others to suffer the same loss as I have".

In modern times the biblical retribution of and eye for eye is not condoned, so a legal avenue is the only real possibility. But it is still retribution even if by another name. History is full of cases of people who have spent the lives seeking out those responsible for the death of a loved one. This is well known.

In this case there is really no possibility of getting the exact details of what happened. It’s just not going to happen after 20 years. This poor family have been left without a son and brother in what they assume were suspicious circumstances. Whilst they may have initially just assumed that that there was a mix-up in the paperwork this may have become corrupted into a sense that someone is covering up the details. I honestly don’t know if this is true. But after 20 years I think it may be time to move on. This type of thing can be generational and it has to stop sooner or later. For the sake of the family it may be an idea now just to let it lay. But, this said, the loss of a loved family member can sometime just be simply too much to get over but the only one’s really to suffer in the long term are themselves.

Sometimes they may see the “moving on” as some how detracting from the memory of the lost relative and this is why these things simply keep on going.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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gribbler, I'm very sorry for your loss, as I'm sure we all are.

I don't know anything about this incident, but I do know (through word of mouth only) about the Hong Kong (I was told Japanese by locals) student. We used to be able to ski to the bottom of the very long drag in summer (I have done a fair bit of training in Stubaital on Heini Messner's camps). The student apparently fell off the drag and tried to cross the off piste area to get to the piste and fell in a crevasse. The following summer the bottom part of the lift was closed and to my knowledge had never been re-opened for summer skiing. The run back from the Eisjoch chairlift comes down a steep pitch which has a huge crevasse just to the side (and presumably across the piste), the last few times I skied there that was also closed in summer when it appeared to be perfectly OK - maybe as a result of this incident?

Skola, I'm about to upload today's photos to do the opening day snow report, get your OH to look - it's hot! Very sunny, and the snow was good.

pam w, If it's still safe we may well go onto l'Echines next week - it was lovely today. Laughing

WRT skiing off piste on a glacier in summer - unless you know where the crevasses are and the condition of the snow bridges it would be an extremely silly thing to do. Lots of snow has melted and the bridges are not as strong as in winter. Tourist skiers/boarders should and are discouraged from doing this. One of our lifties fell one leg into a crevasse near the nursery slope a couple of years ago - DO NOT WALK ON A GACIER - skis and boards may slide over the top, a foot can easily go down.

WRT responsibility: our lift company was held liable for 2 deaths a few years ago when people fell on sheet ice and slid down l'Echines and fell into crevasses and died. They've been much more careful since then, but there are many complaints when runs are closed from tourists wanting to ski everywhere.

No-one should be put off summer skiing on glaciers which is great, but caution should be used all the time, and holiday makers should be aware that glaciers can be dangerous at any time. Yes - they move, and yes - crevasses open up overnight.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

FenlandSkier,

The glacier (de Mer) in Chamonix shows different consecutive openings made in the glacier for letting the tourists to walk inisde to see the interior. A glacier does move a few metres a year.

The easiski information seems to indicate in the previous year a skier came off a drag lift, tried to go back into a piste and got killed by dropping into the crevasse. Coming off a drag lift can happen to any piste user. Admittedly the danger here is related to the summer use of the resort.

PJSki,

We put our trust into other people's hand when it comes to saftey in a skiing resort. When something like this happened the victim's family relied on the local people knowledge, good will and experience to find the missing person. The information suggests that some people were more worried about their jobs, reputation and their areas of responsibility rather than the missing person's life. I am sure many Austrians have gone over the top to provide the assistance but some aspects of the incident did warrant investigation into.

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saikee, So, cock up or conspiracy to cover up? The allegation is that there has been a cover up. I can't find any evidence of a conspiracy.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

saikee, The Mer de Glace may move metres a year, but our glacier only moves about 4-6 cms per year! I believe the Girose is much faster, but not nearly as fast as the Mer de Glace which I believe is exceptional. There were warnings - there always are about not going off the marked piste etc. We have lots of them - I ignored two (including climbing over a large snow wall to get onto the Echines) today. Shock

After all it is free

PJSki,

The OP's title is "quest for facts".

I somehow feel the family of a young and healthy hockey coach player is entitled to know if the loss of their love one was accidental or was there any foul play involved. Don't think we are talking conspiracy here, just explanation for the glaring discrepancies.

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achilles, If the arrow pointing to where the body was found is in the right place in that artical it's nowhere near the Eisjoch chairlift. which is right then?

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I was wrong about the lift - the Eisjoch is the T bar (several) going up the glacier - I was thinking it was the chairlift (report said chairlift) at the top which it's not. Looking at the map at http://www.alpineskimaps.com/htm/austria/stubai/winmap.htm You'll see a 7 marked in a diamond which is where the wall and big crevasse I mentioned is. you can also see blue run number 1 below Eisgrat and to the right of two lifts - I think there was only one in those days IIRC - those are the lifts and the run that the HK chap tried to get across to - I do remember ropes and signs warning of crevasses.

I am Duncan's mother.

Many of the questions/concerns raised in this discussion are fully explained in John Leak's book, "Cold a Long Time: An Alpine Mystery," and on the website: coldalongtime.com.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

abc, Look at the date! It was 3 years ago. As others said at the time best let rest.

A snowHead

let rest is for the family.

I'm questioning DG's motivation in stirring it up. Particular he still called himself a "journalist". So he's play fast and loose with words is putting him right in the same leagues as the worst kind.

Usually, when DG comes posting in snowheads, he post MANY threads. This is quite rare he didn't come back to post in the same thread, nor open other threads.

A snowHead

lyndamac, welcome to snowHeads.
This is the first time I've looked at this thread. My condolences for your loss.
I hope that this new book - you presumably posted on here out of a wish to promote it - does well.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

abc, have you actually read the post immediately above yours? What's the point in blathering on about another poster who hasn't actually been on the forum for years now? Twisted Evil

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Sorry,

I didn't see the original thread 3 years ago. So I took Boredsurfing's comment to mean this is an old matter.

I didn't realize the victim's family had resurrected the thread. I'll now let it die...

I guess I at least derailed it so now no one would notice the book spam. rolling eyes

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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abc, Keep up, Goldfish hasn't posted on here for years now, although Stoatsbrother is still here, Toofy Grin

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I know this is an old thread but I have a great theory about the cover up... maybe it is mentioned in the book... who knows??...

After all it is free

To anyone who has questions about what really happened to Duncan on the piste, I suggest you check out the new book, which covers all aspects of the case. The book, "Cold a Long Time:An Alpine Mystery" by author John Leake, just won the 2012 Independent Publisher Award (Bronze/True Crime)

Also check out the website:http://www.coldalongtime.com - you can also watch a short video about the story, which is narrated by actor Bill Paxton.

Lynda MacPherson

lyndamac, just seen this thread. I have a fun loving, snowboarding son. My heart goes out to you and your family. x

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The following information is obtainable from the Internet but it does show up the danger Mr. Duncan MacPherson could have faced.

I started by posting this photo

reported by PlanetSKI to be Duncan’s car left in the Stubai car park for 6 weeks (between 9 Aug to 20 Sep) but did not catch the attention of the resort staff.

One can find this place by either Google map or Bing map. Just search “Stubai Gletscher” and locate the Mutterberg chairlift station that has a very large car park.

The body Mr. Duncan MacPherson was reported to be 35m or 120m from the east of the Eisjoch drag lift according to the information collected by PlanetSKI which provides the chronology of events.

The chairlift system can be seen from Bergfex.com. Locally to Eisjoch drag lift there is Schaufeljoch gondola with Piste 1a on the East side (where the body was found). On the west side there is the Eisjoch "chairlift" and Piste 1. Both Piste 1 and 1a are blue runs suitable for begineers as Austrin resorts have no green run. Theses lifts and runs are depicted below. If Mr. Duncan MacPherson was getting snowboard lessons for more than one day he would be unlikely to wander off the piste which appears to be fenced off in one of the above photo.

One can appreciate the physical condition by a bird's eye view from the Bing Map which does indicate some crevasses in the area.

It should be pointed out that we do not known when the Bing map was prepared but the view confirms that it was summer and only the upper section is skiable.

What amazing is when I zoom in the Bing map it shows up some large crevasses.

Not been skiing Stubai Glacier in summer I cannot confirm if the same Piste 1a (Duncan's body was reported on the East side and at either 35m or 120m from the Eisjoch drag lift) is used both in summer and winter but there is no doubt some large crevasses are features of this glacier.

The conclusion I could draw is the staff who run the summer skiing should know the risk associated with these crevasses and should have checked the site after each skiing day as this is the standard practice of every resort. The decision to permit skiing after two fatalities in consecutive years must raise some eyebrows.

It should be understood that the crevasses seen here do not necessarily correspond to the condition Mr. Duncan MacPherson experienced in 1989. I post the information here mainly to reveal the size and extent of these crevasses present so close to the reported Eisjoch drag lift. I was surprised by their obvious presence.

Help!!

Parents of snowboarder lost in Austrian crevasse in 1989 pursue 20-year quest for facts

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