Queenslander Gerard Berger, who died in a snowboarding accident, was excited about working at a NSW ski resort during the winter months.
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Queenslander Gerard Berger, who died in a snowboarding accident, was excited about working at a NSW ski resort during the winter months.
The 25-year-old had failed to return home from a snowboarding session in Perisher and was found in a wooded area without trails late on Wednesday night.
Police said he had been snowboarding with friends when he became separated from the group just after 12.30pm on Wednesday.
A search began after he failed to turn up for work at 6pm and NSW Police were contacted by his employer four hours later at around 10.50pm.
Mr Berger, who was from Arundel on the Gold Coast, was believed to be about two weeks into a three-month adventure.
"After leaving it till the final day I have finally finished packing, it finally started snowing and I can't wait to get there. Perisher bound baby!!" Mr Berger wrote on Facebook on June 15.
Detective Inspector Shane Box said the cause of death was uncertain, but said it had been a snowboarding accident.
"We know he hit an embankment and he was then found in a creek, but our inquiries are continuing," he said.
A Perisher spokesman said the small alpine community was in shock.
Perisher chief executive officer Peter Brulisauer said it was a very sad day for the man's family and the entire community.
"Our condolences go out to the young man's family and friends during this difficult time," he said in a statement on Thursday.
Mr Brulisauer said Mr Berger was already a popular member of staff in the first few weeks of the season.
A post-mortem will be conducted.
It's the second death at an eastern Australian snow resort in a little more than a week.
A seven-year-old boy, Haadi Akhtar, died after being buried by snow that came loose from his lodge at Mt Buller in Victoria.
He was found nearly two hours after he went missing, just 40 metres from where he was last seen.
The latest death also comes just hours after a 21-year-old man was found at Perisher with serious head injuries and transferred to Canberra Hospital.
Source: Canberra Times