Freestyle Skier Sarah Burke Dies In Hospital...

**Coddfish** · 01-19-2012, 10:12 PM

From CTV News:

Jered Stuffco, CTVNews.ca

Date: Thu. Jan. 19 2012 7:56 PM ET

Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke died on Thursday, nine days after she was severely injured at the bottom of a routine training run in Utah.

Burke suffered the injury, characterized by a freestyle ski official as a "freak accident," while training at the Eagle Superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort on Jan. 10.

The 29-year-old later underwent surgery, but imaging studies revealed that she had suffered irreversible brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

In accordance with her wishes, Burke's tissues were donated to save the lives of others, her family said in a statement.

The family has also been asked about donations to help cover medical costs associated with the emergency hospital stay.

"The family was moved by the sincere and heartfelt sympathy expressed by people inspired by Sarah from all around the world. They have received a substantial number of inquiries from those who would like to make a contribution on behalf of Sarah," the statement said.

Burke was a four-time winner at the Winter X Games, and was considered a pioneer who became the best-known athlete in the sport.

She had lobbied successfully to have the sport brought into the Olympics, where it will debut at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

Named as the Best Female Action Sports Athlete by ESPN in 2007, Burke spent her early years in Barrie, Ont., but lived in Squamish, B.C.

Despite breaking a vertebrae in her lower back during a fall and missing significant time in 2009, she had bounced back and was due to again compete in the Winter X Games this month.

She was also considered a favourite to win gold at the 2014 Games.

The accident, which occurred on the same pipe where snowboarder Kevin Pearce also suffered serious injuries in 2009, has drawn into question the safety of such sports. Pipe snowboarding is considered a sister sport.

Some superpipes now have walls that soar as high as 22 feet, which is 25 per cent higher than those built in the last decade.

Peter Judge, CEO from the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, characterized the fatal outcome as a "freak accident" turned tragic.

"It seems to be more of a fluke outcome than anything else," he told reporters Thursday.

He noted that Burke was attempting a relatively common aerial trick called a flatspin 540 when the crash occurred.

When asked about the dangerous nature of the sport, Judge said that officials attempt to make it as safe as possible.

"There is an element of risk in any sport. There is an element of risk walking down the street," he said.

"That is why they train so carefully, that is why there's so much safety built in," he added, referring to venues and equipment such as helmets.

"Nothing is going to eliminate all accidents."

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Freestyle skier Sarah Burke dies in hospital | CTV News

**Coddfish** · 01-20-2012, 10:56 AM

From CTV News:

Sarah Burke's family faces $550,000 in bills

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Fri. Jan. 20 2012 10:20 AM ET

A website has been set up to receive donations to cover the massive medical costs faced by the family of Sarah Burke, the beloved Canadian freestyle skier who died Thursday following a horrific crash nine days earlier.

Burke crashed in what has been described as a freak accident during a training run at the Eagle Superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah on Jan. 10.

The 29-year-old, considered a trailblazer for her sport, underwent extensive surgery but imaging later showed she had suffered extensive brain damage due to a torn artery that cut off the flow of oxygen to her brain.

Now, a website has been set up to solicit donations to help cover the hospital bills left to her husband, fellow skier Rory Bushfield, and her parents and sister.

The goal is to bring in $550,000. It isn't clear whether Burke had health insurance that covered extreme sports.

By Friday morning at 8 a.m. ET, just one day after her death, $17,342.04 had come in -- three per cent of the goal. By 10 a.m., the tally had skyrocketed to over $68,000, or 12 per cent of the goal.

"Please consider helping them cover the enormous cost of Sarah's recent medical care and to provide for other arrangements by donating," the website states. "Your support in their greatest time of need will be gratefully appreciated and forever remembered."

The website describes Burke as a "legendary athlete, role model and an inspiration" and says she was Canada's first competitive female freeskier who successfully lobbied the Winter X Games to include women in the freeskiing discipline.

And it was her work lobbying sporting associations and advocating for the sport, the site says, that led to freesking's inclusion in the 2014 Sochi Olympics -- an event where she was expected to have been a favourite.

"Her accomplishments on skis continue to inspire girls everywhere to believe in themselves and follow their hearts," the site says.

"Her passing is not a cause to pack up our skis, but rather a reason to step-in and ski for Sarah and the dreams that inspired her star to shine."

Peter Judge, CEO of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, said Burke's loss is being deeply felt in the skiing community and among those who knew her.

"Obviously she was someone of significance inside her sport but beyond that she transcended sport. She was someone who was very approachable, always open, always very giving. Her time was something she saw as a gift to be able to give and share with other people," Judge told CTV's Canada AM, adding that Burke was also deeply committed to charity work.

"She was someone who was very much aware of what her place was in the world and how to fill it," he said.

Judge said Burke leaves a legacy that "will run through skiing and the sporting industry for years and years to come."

Link:
Sarah Burke's family faces $550,000 in bills | CTV News

**triedit** · 01-20-2012, 11:27 AM

I have a bit of an issue with this fundraiser. She should have been covered by insurance. I am, so why wasn't she? Or why was she allowed to linger in a vegetative state, racking up bills they knew they couldnt pay? or why was she not transferred to a facility in Canada where all her costs would be covered?

Too many questions.