On Friday May 10, Dr. Terrence “Terry” O’Connor was killed in an avalanche.
A beloved community member, O’Connor lost his life on Donaldson Peak in Idaho’s Lost River Range. He was an experienced backcountry skier who that day was with a partner on the downhill. It appeared that he triggered a small wind slab avalanche and was carried downhill which triggered a larger avalanche. His partner called for help via satellite communication and then descended to find O’Connor with her probe pole and a rescue transceiver. Using a shovel she dug him out and attempted CPR. Search and rescue arrived at the scene for evacuation taking O’Connor to St. Luke’s Wood River Emergency Department where he later died.
Dr. O’Connor was well-known in the community and had served as director of Blaine County Ambulance District. He was dedicated to the Wood River Valley community and recognized for his pivotal role during the pandemic. His work has been honored by South Central Public Health District and the Idaho Hospital Association where he is honored not only in the community but across the state of Idaho.
Dr. O’connor worked in Ketchum specializing in Emergency Medicine. He was a 2004 graduate from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. His primary affiliation was with St Luke’s Wood River Medical Center.
For the 2023-2024 season in the US alone there were 16 avalanche related fatalities. Satellite communication, strong buddy system strategy and transponders are critical for safety in backcountry skiing. The two were doing everything right but the unpredictability of the elements overcame this trip.
The community mourns and our condolences are with his family.