According to news reports, two New Zealanders were killed in an avalanche in Hokkaido, northern Japan. It was identified by the police and reported on Tuesday.
The two people killed in the avalanche were Joshua Selens, a 33-year-old guide, and Isabella Bolton, a 21-year-old resident of Coochchan. The two who were killed were among a group of six people, some of whom were backcountry skiing.
He was initially identified as the second casualty by the Japanese news outlet Kyodo News, which credited Japanese police with the information.
However, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said in this incident, they could not confirm the name of the second victim due to confidentiality reasons.
In the incident, Japanese media reported that the pair were among a group of six people exploring the back country of Mount Yotel at an altitude of 650–700 meters when the snow fell on Monday.
A third New Zealander was reportedly injured in the incident, and that person was Lars Meyer Blattner.
Isabella Bolton was born in England. But although he was born in England, he grew up in Diamond Harbor and Heathcote Valley. and studied at Rangi Ruru Girls School in Christchurch. Since November, Bolton has been employed as a ski guide in Niseko. He also worked in Canada, Wanaka, and Ski Fields.
Isabella Bolton’s family said she had an “adventurous spirit and a love of skiing and the outdoors.”
Saddened by the incident, the family said, “Our family would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of his colleague and friend, whose lives have also been tragically lost.”.
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