The death of a 45-year-old Oklahoma City woman remains under investigation after she and her husband became stranded in heavy snow in the Enchantments, where rescuers found him suffering from severe hypothermia.
The woman’s body was recovered and turned over to the Chelan County Coroner’s Office, which said the cause and manner of her death remain under investigation. Her husband was flown out the morning of Sept. 14 and taken to Cascade Medical Center for treatment.
The couple’s overnight ordeal began with a text-to-911 report received by RiverCom dispatch at about 5:26 p.m. Sept. 13. The man said his wife could no longer move and he could not carry her out, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
They were in the Enchantments’ “core zone” at an estimated elevation of 7,000 to 8,000 feet, about 8 to 10 miles from either trailhead. Storms had persisted throughout the day, bringing significant snowfall.
The man reported that their clothing was soaked and they had no overnight gear. By about 5:49 p.m., he said his wife was under an emergency blanket and they were surrounded by 1 to 2 feet of snow.
Deputies determined a helicopter rescue would be the best option if the weather cleared. With conditions preventing access by air, they requested a ground team from Chelan County Mountain Rescue to reach the couple and warm the woman.
Sheriff’s Office personnel requested a helicopter equipped for a hoist rescue at about 6:51 p.m. An Army helicopter launched from Yakima around 8 p.m., but weather prevented it from reaching the couple.
Throughout the evening, the husband sent updates describing his wife’s worsening condition and warning that she might not survive, the Sheriff’s Office said. Personnel continued seeking an Army response in case she could still be helped or his condition also became a medical emergency.
A second helicopter attempt at about 10:50 p.m. was also unsuccessful because of the weather.
Mountain rescue personnel reached the couple around 3:30 a.m. Sept. 14. They reported that the woman was dead and her husband had severe hypothermia. They warmed him inside a tent.
Later that morning, the Army helicopter reached the area and picked up the man and two rescuers. They arrived at the Leavenworth fish hatchery around 8:39 a.m., where an ambulance took him to the hospital.
An additional recovery flight was dispatched around 9:47 a.m. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter carried two deputies from the hatchery to assist in recovering the woman’s body.
The coroner’s investigation will determine the cause and manner of her death.
