A 2015 Brainerd High School graduate died Monday evening after he was buried in an avalanche Thursday, Jan. 17, at a ski resort in New Mexico.
A news release from New Mexico Donor Services identified the Brainerd native as 22-year-old Corey Borg-Massanari.
The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper reported the avalanche happened Thursday afternoon, at a steep chute near the Kachina Peak Lift at Taos Ski Valley ski resort. A layer of snow broke free, slid down a chute and buried two skiers. The skiers were recovered from the snow and a 26-year-old Massachusetts man, Matthew Zonghetti, died at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, N.M. Borg-Massanari was flown by helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M., where Monday officials confirmed his death. Borg-Massanari was in critical condition through the weekend until Monday evening, a spokeswoman reported.
"The family of Corey Borg-Massanari ... would like to share that Corey has passed away at UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico," the release stated. "Corey brought joy to many and will continue to bring joy to others through his life-saving gift of organ donation."
The ski resort stated in a news release the avalanche occurred just before noon Thursday in chute K3 near the top of the 12,481-foot Kachina Peak, the resort's highest point, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
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Dozens of rescuers, including skiers and snowboarders who witnessed the tragedy, searched the piled snow at the base of the chute and dug the two men out just before 1 p.m. Medics performed CPR and transported the men to Mogul Medical Clinic at the base of the resort before they were transported to hospitals.
In a statement, Taos Ski Valley said avalanche mitigation work was taking place throughout the season and just hours earlier in the area where the avalanche occurred.
Taos Ski Valley is 124 miles northeast of Albuquerque. Kachina Peak has one the highest chairlifts in North America.
Borg-Massanari was born in Pueblo, Colo., and was raised in Brainerd. He moved to Vail, Colo., where he attended Colorado Mountain College. While attending college he worked at Patagonia in Vail Village and he would often go skiing on his lunch break, the statement noted. During the summer months, Borg-Massanari was a zip line tour guide at Zip Adventures at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, Colo.
"Corey was known for his smile, his quirky sense of humor and his unique sense of style," according to the family's statement. "He loved spending time with family and friends, and especially his fuzzy dog, Abu. Corey was an experienced and avid skier and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed camping, fishing, zip lining, snowmobiling, dirt biking and so much more. He liked working on his Jeep with his dad and learned the love of cooking from his mom."
In the statement, Borg-Massanari's family thanked the Taos Ski Valley staff, skiers and volunteers who assisted in the search for their son, and EMS and helicopter staff for the care given. The family thanked the New Mexico hospital's trauma and intensive care unit staff, who "cried and laughed beside them as they shared stories of Corey's life."
The family also thanked people for continuing to respect their privacy during a very difficult time.
Nicole Klein, who identified herself as Borg's aunt, set up a GoFundMe page, with this statement: "Thank you for helping our family. My nephew (my sister's son) Corey Borg was in an avalanche while skiing in New Mexico. We are trying to take financial stress away for the family and allow them to just focus on Corey. We greatly appreciate anything and please continue to pray for everyone."
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As of 6:30 p.m. Monday, the fundraising campaign had earned $10,925 of a $15,000 goal, donated by 152 people. Visit www.gofundme.com/6qwzk9s for more information.
The family also encouraged everyone to register as organ donors in honor of Borg-Massanari at www.BeTheGiftToday.com .
