05 April 2023 , 18:49
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A popular climber managed to push someone to safety before being crushed to death by falling huge blocks of ice.
Meg O'Neil, 41, was killed while the group of three attempted to climb Raven Falls, a frozen waterfall in Duchesne County, Utah.
According to a police report on the tragedy, she pushed another climber, a 21-year-old woman, out of the way and "probably saved her life".
The police said: "Unfortunately, the climber that pushed her fellow climber out of the way of the falling ice was trapped underneath two huge blocks of ice and did not survive."
Rescuers stand next to one of the massie ice blocks that sheared off (Facebook/Duchesne County Sheriff's Office)Another climber, a 34-year-old man, fell around 40ft after the column of ice broke off and he was left with serious injuries. His condition is unknown according to the latest police update.
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As news of the tragic climbing accident on April 2 spread, friends identified the killed climber as Ms O'Neil.
According to a LinkedIn profiled for Ms O'Neil, she worked as an Assistant Director for Embark Outdoors, a non-profit that 'empowers refugee young women through sport'.
Ms O'Neil was a popular climber who worked to empower refugee women through outdoor pursuits (Instagram/embark.outdoors)
Ms O Neil on a trail (Instagram/embark.outdoors)An emotional post on the company's instagram post read: "We have lost a dear friend, a hero, and our fearless leader.
"Yesterday afternoon, our Meg was in a terrible accident while ice climbing in Duchesne county.
"In an act so true to Meg, she made sure the others on the ground were safe before she was killed by falling debris.
"Search and Rescue has reached her, and it’s confirmed that it happened instantly.
A long distance photo of the frozen waterfall released by police (Facebook/Duchesne County Sheriff's Office)"Most of our girls have known Meg for half their life.
"She’d been a mentor to them since 7th grade.
"She was the heart and soul of this program, as you all well know.
"We are so grateful to the community for allowing our girls time to hear this news from our team first. The devastating ripple of this has just begun."
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A rose left at the site fo the accident (Facebook/Duchesne County Sheriff's Office)
Meg with her pals (Facebook/For Meg)Along with the news, police shared a picture of a massive chunk of ice, completely dwarfing a man standing next to it.
A piece of climbing gear appears trapped beneath it.
Rescue teams from Wasatch County Search and Rescue, Life Flight, Utah High-Angle team and the Duchesne County Search and Rescue along with EMS, Duchesne City Volunteer Fire Department and the Volunteer Ice Climbers worked to recover Ms O'Neil's body.
Bereaved friends set up a public Facebook group so memories of Ms O'Neil could be shared.
Meg in a Facebook photo (Facebook/For Meg)One wrote: "Meg was a force of nature and the world is a less fun, less sparkly, less lively place without her in it. She was a connector."
Another commented: "Yesterday I carried an empty bag up to your last climb and helped you down. My heart hurts. The mountains and skies were crying for you.
"I miss you so much Meg."
The police statement finished off: "Our sincere condolences to all effected by this tragedy, to the family of this brave, courageous woman who lost her life while saving another."