11-year-old girl killed in Brighton avalanche was buried under 4 feet of snow for 17 minutes, report says
Airfind news item
By Ryan Bittan
Published on March 1, 2026.
The Utah Avalanche Center has released a report detailing the circumstances of an avalanche that resulted in the death of 11-year-old Madelyn Eitas, who was buried under 4 feet of snow for 17 minutes. Eitas was skiing with her dad and brother in the Brighton backcountry area when an avalanche carried her downhill and left her buried. The family did not have any avalanche rescue equipment. After ski patrol arrived, Madelyn was found four feet below the snow surface and given CPR for nearly 30 minutes before a rescue helicopter could land due to poor weather. The incident occurred on a northeast-facing slope known as Mary Main Bowl, near Rock Garden and the Mary Chutes. The avalanche danger was reportedly "high" on the day of the incident.
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