Family ski trip ends in tragedy after brother finds sister swept away by Utah avalanche

An 11-year-old miss from Massachusetts was identified arsenic the unfortunate of an avalanche successful Utah during a skiing vacation, according to police.

Madelyn Eitas, 11, of Rochester, Massachusetts, was identified arsenic the unfortunate of the avalanche that happened astatine Brighton Ski Resort successful Brighton, Utah, astir 12:30 p.m. connected Thursday, Feb. 19.

According to the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, erstwhile authorities arrived connected the scene, the girl's household and "over 20 citizens successful the area" had begun the archetypal hunt and rescue efforts.

Authorities credited the 11-year-old's brother, Cameron Eitas, arsenic "heroically" uncovering her by utilizing an exertion to find her. The Unified Police Department did not specify what exertion was utilized to find the avalanche victim.

Madelyn Eitas, 11, from Rochester, Massachusetts, was remembered arsenic a beloved shot subordinate aft dying successful an avalanche astatine Brighton Ski Resort successful Utah during a household vacation. (Becky Eitas/Facebook)

Once Madelyn was located, archetypal responders began life-saving measures connected her earlier she was transported to a adjacent infirmary successful captious condition. She died astatine the hospital. 

"Our thoughts are with the victim's household during this incredibly hard time," they said. "The communities present successful Utah, arsenic good arsenic the family's location assemblage successful Massachusetts, present person the important work of rallying astir the household to supply support, compassion, and comfortableness successful the times ahead."

The child, identified arsenic Madelyn Eitas from Rochester, Mass., was backcountry skiing with her household adjacent the Brighton Ski Resort connected Thursday erstwhile she was buried successful the slide. (Becky Eitas/Facebook)

Madelyn was remembered for her emotion of soccer, her household and friends. The 11-year-old was a "beloved" subordinate of the 6th. people question squad with the Marine Soccer team.

"Maddie was a agleam and fantastic miss who near a lasting interaction connected her family, friends, coaches, teammates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. This devastating quality has profoundly affected our full community, and she volition beryllium profoundly missed by each who knew her," the squad shared successful a societal media post.

In a statement, the Rochester, Massachusetts Police Department offered condolences to Madelyn's household and rallied the family's assemblage to rally astir the grieving family.

"Madelyn, a young subordinate of our Rochester community, mislaid her beingness successful an avalanche portion connected abrogation with her household successful Utah. There are simply nary words that tin afloat seizure the value of this nonaccomplishment oregon the heartbreak her household is experiencing. A beingness truthful young, afloat of promise, kindness, and joy, taken acold excessively soon," they said.

Madelyn’s decease came a time aft different akin snowfall descent adjacent a Utah skis edifice killed a begetter who was retired snowmobiling with his son, who survived. That incidental took spot astir 4 p.m. connected Feb. 18 successful the Snake Creek country westbound of Midway, the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said successful a property release.

"Investigation determined that an big antheral and his juvenile lad were snowmobiling successful the country erstwhile the avalanche occurred. The big antheral was caught and buried successful the slide," the sheriff's bureau said.

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Brighton Ski Resort for comment.