[Updated at 4:44 p.m. ET] A Canadian freestyle skier who was seriously injured during practice in Utah last week has died, her family said Thursday in a statement released by her publicist.
Sarah Burke, 29, died Thursday morning at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she had been treated for injuries she suffered during a training run at Park City Mountain Resort's superpipe.
Burke reportedly fell while trying a trick and "whiplashed" onto her side at Park City Mountain Resort's superpipe on January 10, officials have said. She ruptured a vertebral artery in the fall, leading to an intracranial hemorrhage that caused her to go into cardiac arrest at the accident site, according to a statement released by her publicist, Nicole Wool.
Emergency workers gave her CPR at the site, during which time she remained without a pulse or voluntary breathing. She was taken to a hospital, where she was put on life support and underwent successful surgery to repair the artery – one of four major arteries supplying blood to the brain - the next day, according to the statement.
But after the surgery, tests determined she suffered "irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest," the statement reads.
"Sarah passed away peacefully surrounded by those she loved," according to the statement.
Burke, a native of Ontario who lived in British Columbia, was 11th in the Association of Freeskiing Professionals overall rankings last year. She won four gold medals in the Winter X Games, the event she was training for at the time of last week's accident. She also won gold at the 2005 world championships in Finland and in 2007 received ESPN’s Best Female Action Sports Athlete award.
Burke is considered a pioneer of freestyle skiing and was a major force in getting the ski halfpipe event added to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Peter Judge, CEO of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, said last week.
The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association said on its Facebook page Thursday that it "sends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Sarah Burke."
Last week, Judge told reporters in a conference call that he didn't think the incident would damage the reputation of a sport that had just been added to the Olympic lineup.
"I think the sport in general is extremely safe. Obviously, there are inherent risks in any sport," he said. "Safety and athlete safety is one of the things that is paramount within our sport."
He added that often, because of the perceived dangers of the sport, those involved with it go above and beyond to ensure safety. He said there hadn't been a major freestyle incident in nearly 35 years. Still, Judge said, they would be looking at what happened to cause the accident to see whether anything needed to be reexamined.
"When there's an injury," Judge said last week, "you always do a full audit to understand what the root cause is and whether you can make anything safer."
People flooded Burke's Facebook page with messages of support after her fall. Her family, which thanked her friends and doctors for their care, said it "was moved by the sincere and heartfelt sympathy expressed by people inspired by Sarah from all around the world," and that a public celebration of her life would be held in the coming weeks.
The family, noting that it has received many inquiries from people who wanted to make a contribution in Burke's memory, said people could go to
http://www.giveforward.com/sarahburke
for more information.
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Beautiful young talented women. rest in peace
Just the one: woman
She dug her own grave. Now she has to lie in it. Anybody who feels bad about this needs their head examined. She tempted fate. Fate won. Plain and simple.
Are you that stupid!!!! You must not have any loved ones or anyone you care about. Yes she lived on the edge but where is your compassion? May she rest in peace.
Go back under your bridge you little troll.
You are a disgusting excuse for a human being.
get a life. It's clear you are in need of one.
Insensitive. Maybe you'll get killed in your way to work one day. Made your bed eh? This was what she did for a living. And she was great at it. RIP Sarah
You have no idea how much I want to punch you in the face right now for your comments.
That's pretty harsh. I wouldn't put it that way, but you can't say she didn't know the consequences of freestyle skiing. It's just like skateboarding or any other x-games sport.
you are the reason abortion should be legal
You are a sad excuse for a human being.
The best part of dirk ran down his mothers leg.
Yeah, we should all wrap ourselves in bubble wrap and make sure we don't do anything dangerous so we don't die.
You are one ungrateful idiot...your mommy must of put you in the trash at birth???
Yo, Dirk. Fate could just as easily pick you off the next time you leave the house. That is, if you ever come out of your momma's basement. Wanna guess how much we care?
Dirt,
That was a very, very naughty and somewhat evil comment to make. What goes around, comes around. I am afraid for you...
What do you do? Sit in a cubicle all day? There's nothing wrong with doing what you love and pushing limits. Horrible things happen. Just because she chose this as a career, yes, it is extreme, doesn't give you the right to be an absolute fool. You must be a boring man Dirk. A safe, but boring man who has inspired maybe a handful of people if that.
Theres a typo in your name. The 'r' should have been 'c'.
Sarah... May your sould RIP
Can't wait for you to get into an accident and then high five Fate.
Really?? Your disrespect is beyond comprehension. I hope you trip and fall into oncoming traffic and if you tell me where you live i will come help push you into oncoming traffic! Ever heard of Karma?? If not, you will soon!
Stop feeding the troll people. People like Dirk have no lives and sit in their mom's basement spending hours trying to get attention.
Dirk- Perhaps you wouldn't be so inconsiderate with your comments had it been someone you knew? Yes, everyone knows she was taking risks.. Thanks captain obvious. It doesn't take away from the fact that someone far to young had their life cut way too short. Thanks for your heartless input, Diggler.
Unbelievable comment. Why post it? You must take pleasure in hurting her grief stricken family and friends. Like so many in sport Sarah embodied the human spirit, achieving the unachievable and by all accounts treating those she met with honesty and respect. God Bless you Sarah. As for you Dirk, may god help you find your sole. It appears to be missing.
TROLL.
No Dirk, she died doing something she loves doing. She was a Champion in her sport and well respected. If we must die than I would chose to die doing the thing I love most. My prayers to her family and loved ones. Dirk GET A LIFE...
Dirk,
You are a putz. But I suspect you made your comment just to stir the kettle. Moron.
What is wrong with you?
You are a weird cat Dirk.
She had more courage, guts, strength (physically and mentally) then what you could ever dream to have, or become. She was a hero, not just in sport, but in giving to others (again, something you likely know nothing about). As others on here have said, go back to your trailer, crack open another can of beer, and check your mailbox for gov't paycheck.
Dirk- Your birth certificate is an apology from the condom factory! Sarah had a lot of friends vato, you might be tempting fate yourself.
How did you manage to get a computer?
All I have to say is WOW how sad are you DIRK the TROLL???
Dirk needs attention. Best to ignore his attempts at being shocking and special
I hope your entire family burns to death.
My sincere condolences to Sarah Family and to Canada for your great loss.
I hope that I go out doing what I dearly love to do as well. To many good die so young while the PIA people seem to stick aruond forever. RIP.
There are so many people that don't belong in this world. Sarah, you do. You beauty is remarkable both inside and out. You will be missed.
<3 Sarah, great times meeting you and talking with you on the few occasions we got. We lost a legend. Rest in Peace! Bushy and the fam stay strong! Skiing for Sarah the rest of the season and beyond. Tragic.
Canada has lost a great women and an amazing athlete today.
Your commitment to have free style skiing part of the Olympics will echo forever.
You shall always be remembered as a beautiful kind Canadian.
May you rest in peace Sarah.
This is very sad. What an amazing young lady! I too lost a young and beautiful young lady from a similar tragic injury – sustain as the result of a car crash. My sympathies to the family. God Bless
Very sad. Too young.
OMG! I really thought she was gonna pulll through. My condolences
RIP
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
A candle that burns twice as bright only lasts half as long.
Wow. Deep.
That breaks my heart..You will certainly be missed
Very sad. A talented young lady lost to death this way is very tragic. My heart and prayers go out to her family.
So sad to hear the news, my thoughts and prayers are with her husband and family at this time.