Mark Salesse's mother told it was 'humanly impossible' for son to have survived
'He chose his final resting place. He is at peace,' says mother
The family of Sgt. Mark Salesse issued a statement today, telling the world they feel consoled by the fact he died doing what he loved, "in the majestic mountains that so beckoned him."
The recovery mission for the search and rescue technician continued today at the Polar Circus Ice Climbing route in Banff National Park.
- Mark Salesse swept away by Alberta avalanche on military training exercise
- Mark Salesse's family 'preparing for the worst'
Although Parks Canada says that good progress was made today, there is still no sign of the 44-year-old who was swept away by an avalanche Thursday.
Salesse was performing annual training exercises with three other members of the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 17 Wing Winnipeg when the incident occurred.
Salesse's mother, Liz Quinn, said in the statement she was briefed by military officials who told her that after securing the site for rescue and assessing it they determined it was "humanly impossible to survive the feat."
She was also told her son lies buried somewhere beneath 4 1/2 metres of snow.
"They will continue searching for Mark and bring our beautiful, loving son home to us," the statement read. "It may take a week, if weather conditions permit. If not, the search will continue in the early summer after the spring thaw."
Parks Canada visitor safety specialists were able to safely search the site for six hours today and were able to eliminate large portions of the search zones.
The search is expected to resume tomorrow, weather and conditions permitting.