Pennsylvania's Leading Businessmen Jon And Tim Kinsley Die In Skiing Accident

Two people died in an avalanche while on a guided heli-skiing tour in British Columbia Monday afternoon. Apart from the deceased persons, another individual from the small group was injured due to the slide in the Alkolkolex River watershed southeast of Revelstoke around 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time).

The victims of the ski accident were a pair of brothers from Pennsylvania identified as Timothy and Jonathan Kinsley – leaders of the affluent York-based Kinsley Properties and Kinsley Construction, respectively, VancouverSun reported.

Kinsley Enterprises' spokesperson Patrick Kinsley confirmed the news Tuesday, Fox43 reported. "We are deeply heartbroken to share news of the sudden and tragic passing of Timothy and Jonathan Kinsley while on a skiing trip in British Columbia," the spokesperson's statement read. "Our entire Kinsley family is still processing this heartbreaking news of their deaths and respectfully ask for privacy at this time."

The statement continued, "We know their presence as dedicated leaders in our organization and the community will be immensely missed by many and we are grateful for your love, understanding and prayers as our entire Kinsley family manages this loss."

The brothers were touring with Banff, Alberta-based company CMH Heli-Skiing. The company confirmed that the brothers were fully buried and the guide was partially buried. The brothers were flown to Kelowna General Hospital where they were pronounced dead. "It is impossible to put into words the sorrow that we feel and the sadness that is shared by our guests, their families, and all of our staff," the company stated. The British Columbia Coroners Service is investigating the incident, CBC reported.

Jonathan, 59, was the President of Kinsley Construction, and held the position for 38 years. He received a Bachelor of Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree from Widener University in 1985 from Widener University in Chester, PA.

Timothy, 57, was the President of Kinsley Properties, and held the position for nearly 35 years. He received a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management from Colorado State University in 1988.

In 2022, at least 17 people died in avalanche-related incidents in the U.S., marking a decrease from 37 deaths in 2021.

In another incident, a Utah ski resort worker fell 50 feet to his death after being discharged off a ski lift due to a pine tree falling on it. The deceased, Christian Helger, 29, worked as an on-duty ski patroller at Park City Mountain. Police suspect the tree likely hit the line behind the chair, causing him to fall into a deep ravine.