Retired professor revealed as first victim of horror rock slide in Canada which killed another and injured 3 more
Jutta Hinrichs, 70, a former lecturer at the University of Alberta, was found dead on Thursday after
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Jutta Hinrichs, 70, was killed by the natural disaster
Credit: Facebook
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A rock slide, centre, is seen near Bow Glacier Falls
Credit: AP
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The rock slide happened on a cliff face overlooking Bow Lake in Banff National Park
Credit: AP
A second body was recovered on Friday, and officials have called off the rescue after believing everyone is accounted for.
The fatal land slide happened on Thursday afternoon north of Lake Louie - a tourist town 124 miles northwest of Calgary, Alberta.
A huge rock shelf gave way and cascaded down the mountain along the Bow Glacier Falls hiking trail, taking walkers with it.
The Royal Canadian Mounted
Police
and Parks
Canada
later confirmed that two hikers tragically lost their lives
- one of whom was Jutta Hinrichs.
read more in world news
In a tribute, the University of Alberta said Jutta was a "dedicated leader and educator" who worked in the Faculty of Rehabilitation
Medicine
's Department of Occupational Therapy.
It continued: "As an educator, Jutta nurtured many students, preceptors and clinicians to flourish and grow.
"That her work continues to enrich the tapestry of occupational therapy in Alberta is her legacy."
Corporal Gina Slaney with RCMP said that information about the second victim will be released after the
family
has been notified.
Most read in The US Sun
Local resident Niclas Brundell was hiking on the trail at the time.
He and his wife were among a group standing to the right of the falls when they noticed small rocks start tumbling down the mountain.
Incredible never-before-filmed moment Earth's crust RUPTURES during deadly 7.7-mag quake leaving scientists 'gobsmacked'
Alarmed, the two of them fled the area.
Nicals told CBC news: "I turned round and saw basically a whole shelf of a mountain come loose.
"We just kept sprinting and I couldn't see the people behind us anymore because they were all in that cloud of rock.
"I saw rocks coming tumbling out of that. So it was big. It was, like, the full mountainside."
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The route around Bow Lake is closed following the rock slide
Credit: AP
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The quantity of loose rock was described as "exceptional"
Credit: AP
The Bow Glacier Falls hiking trail is a six-mile route running along the edges of Bow Lake.
It's considered a moderate challenge for hikers, and day-trippers include families.
Francois Masse, the Parks Canada Superintendent of the Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay Field Unit, said the rockfall was an "extremely rare event" that was "neither predictable nor preventable".
While rockfalls are fairly common in the Rockies, he said "the size of the slab that detached" was "exceptional".
The trail to Bow Glacier Falls has been closed for the foreseeable
future
, he said.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she was deeply saddened by the tragic accident.
"We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details," she said in a post on social media.
Ron Hallman, president and CEO of Parks Canada, said: "My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who are affected."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also offered his condolences.
He said: "I want to address the tragedy at Bow Glacier Falls, and offer my condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives in this tragic accident. And wish a full recovery to all those injured."
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