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Avalanche Deaths Haunt Survivor

Adams describes horror after eighth body is recovered

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Dec 31, 2008 2:25 PM CST

(Newser) – One of three survivors of Sunday's devastating avalanche in British Columbia says it was a "gut-wrenching" decision to leave behind eight of his friends—whose buried bodies he since helped recover. Fearing another rush of snow, Jeff Adams left the site with two others. The experienced sledders, all close friends, knew about the weather warnings and took along avalanche gear, reports the Globe and Mail.

"I felt the weight of the snow come over me and I was pretty sure that was it for me," Adams, 29, recalls. "But for some reason I popped out on the surface." He says his best friends "died doing what they loved."

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Avalanche survivor Jeff Adams, third from left, walks with his wife and father, escorted by police as he attempts to speak with reporters about his experience. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

A man places a candle in a snowbank following a church service in remembrance of those killed in Sunday's deadly avalanche. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

A police officer holds his hat as a rescue helicopter takes off with a search team on board to find the buried bodies. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

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Search and rescue teams plowed through feet of snow to find victims. (taiwanonline)

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I'm truly sorry to the families that we couldn't find them. We all knew the backcountry. - Jeff Adams, avalanche survivor

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Avalanche Deaths Haunt Survivor