A 41-year-old ice climber, later identified as Meg O’Neill of Salt Lake City, died in Utah on Sunday, April 2, after saving the life of her 21-year-old climbing partner, Anne Nikolov.

The two women were part of a group of three trying to climb the frozen Raven Falls, a 420- foot waterfall in east-central Utah near Indian Canyon, when the tragedy occurred. O’Neill probably saw or heard something and pushed Nikolov out of the way of falling ice which, according to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s office, probably saved Nikolov’s life.

Nikolov managed to get down and call 911 for help, but O’Neill became trapped under two huge ice blocks and later died. The third climber, 34-year-old Sean McClane, fell about 40 feet when the ice pillar fractured. McClane sustained serious injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital. He later underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

The recovery effort involved members from various agencies.

O’Neill worked at a nonprofit organization, “Embark Outdoors,” for young female refugees and had been a mentor to many of the girls there. The Sheriff’s office put out a statement expressing their condolences to the family of the victim, the third to lose their life in a climbing accident in Utah since February.

On February 10, Zoe McKinney, 17, died after slipping and falling about 30 feet off a cliff while hiking on the Moab Rim Trail.

On February 18, 17-year-old Conly Warren Ruff died after reportedly slipping and plunging about 150 feet off a cliff at Hurricane Overlook while climbing near the edge.

The tragic events in Utah serve as a reminder of the dangers of climbing and hiking in treacherous terrain. Even experienced climbers can encounter unexpected hazards leading to serious injury or death. While accidents do happen, the risks can be minimized by careful planning, proper equipment, and knowing when to turn back.