RIP Natasha Richardson

[Estonut]

Being reported now...

[kayrharris]

I'm really saddened to hear this. What a freak accident. We sure can't take life for granted.

[Estonut]

Until I read Dr. Suchard's post yesterday, I was thinking that something went medically wrong, causing her to fall. I guess the snow was just icy/hard and she fell and hit her head.

Helmets, people! And wear them properly.

What a horrible situation.

[secondchance]

Oh, no. I can't believe it's true.

I don't think anyone could watch Parent Trap without falling in love with her.

[KillerTomato]

[dimmzy]

I'm so sorry for her family!

But I'm having a hard time visualizing that fall especially since she was on a beginners slope with an instructor and didn't hit a tree or a person... Did she slide into a snowbank? Flip over?

I cross-country ski and have fallen down many a time, but never on my head. Usually beginners--especially if they're afraid of skiing-- fall on their behinds or else on their tummies.

[KillerTomato]

I'm so sorry for her family!

But I'm having a hard time visualizing that fall especially since she was on a beginners slope with an instructor and didn't hit a tree or a person... Did she slide into a snowbank? Flip over?

I cross-country ski and have fallen down many a time, but never on my head. Usually beginners--especially if they're afraid of skiing-- fall on their behinds or else on their tummies.

I read that she hit her head on some ice. Dunno if that's true or not.

[Ritterskoop]

I don't think Jeff was saying there wasn't a brain injury before her fall, but that it was not an aneurism.

[Estonut]

I don't think Jeff was saying there wasn't a brain injury before her fall, but that it was not an aneurism.

I thought the other stuff sounded like an impact-type injury.

[sunflower]

It really is sad...to think of all the times people fall while skiing, and one weird move...you just never know.

[Peter5858]

Several years ago, while skiing at Steamboat, to my horror, I actually witnessed a fatal injury at the base of the mountain, as a guy who was skiing on a green trail, totally lost control and smacked into a tree, ironically located right next to the Ski Patrol base headquarters. Further compounding the irony, his two ski partners were trauma nurses. My wife, a physician, the nurses, and ski patrol, all worked feverishly,but futilely, to resuscitate the guy. He of course was not wearing a helmet. My point is that if you pick up enough speed, even on a green trail, you can do serious damage.

[Estonut]

That's the weird thing, though. The reports I've heard/read are that she didn't hit a tree or a rock. I figured she must have fallen and somehow hit her head on icy snow. Others here have pointed out that beginners usually fall on their butts, and hitting your head would be unusual.

On the lighter side, I recall being in a huge lift line at Mammoth Mountain, when the whole line looked up to see a speeding, out-of-control skiier careening down the mountain, straight towards this mass of immobile humanity. It looked like many people were about to get seriously hurt, when, in unparallelled (pun intended) irony, he ran into the big net sign that implored skiiers to "SLOW DOWN." That's one way to get applause!

[christie1111]

That's the weird thing, though. The reports I've heard/read are that she didn't hit a tree or a rock. I figured she must have fallen and somehow hit her head on icy snow. Others here have pointed out that beginners usually fall on their butts, and hitting your head would be unusual.

On the lighter side, I recall being in a huge lift line at Mammoth Mountain, when the whole line looked up to see a speeding, out-of-control skiier careening down the mountain, straight towards this mass of immobile humanity. It looked like many people were about to get seriously hurt, when, in unparallelled (pun intended) irony, he ran into the big net sign that implored skiiers to "SLOW DOWN." That's one way to get applause!

CBS radio yesterday said a rock. But there are so many conflicting reports, who knows.

Very sad indeed.

[ulysses5019]

That's the weird thing, though. The reports I've heard/read are that she didn't hit a tree or a rock. I figured she must have fallen and somehow hit her head on icy snow. Others here have pointed out that beginners usually fall on their butts, and hitting your head would be unusual.

On the lighter side, I recall being in a huge lift line at Mammoth Mountain, when the whole line looked up to see a speeding, out-of-control skiier careening down the mountain, straight towards this mass of immobile humanity. It looked like many people were about to get seriously hurt, when, in unparallelled (pun intended) irony, he ran into the big net sign that implored skiiers to "SLOW DOWN." That's one way to get applause!

That reminds me of the time I was standing with friends at the top of a run and an out of control skier clipped me from behind. Probably a broken brake line.

[Rexer25]

That's the weird thing, though. The reports I've heard/read are that she didn't hit a tree or a rock. I figured she must have fallen and somehow hit her head on icy snow. Others here have pointed out that beginners usually fall on their butts, and hitting your head would be unusual.

On the lighter side, I recall being in a huge lift line at Mammoth Mountain, when the whole line looked up to see a speeding, out-of-control skiier careening down the mountain, straight towards this mass of immobile humanity. It looked like many people were about to get seriously hurt, when, in unparallelled (pun intended) irony, he ran into the big net sign that implored skiiers to "SLOW DOWN." That's one way to get applause!

That reminds me of the time I was standing with friends at the top of a run and an out of control skier clipped me from behind. Probably a broken brake line.

You shudnta been trying to make a left turn in front of him.