Renowned US climber kills himself hours after girlfriend dies in avalanche

Tragedy: the couple were renowned within the climbing community
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Tom Powell11 October 2017

A renowned US climber has killed himself hours after his girlfriend died in an avalanche.

Hayden Kennedy, 27, and Inge Perkins, 23, had been skiing off-piste together in Montana when a sheet of snow slid down on top of them.

Ms Perkins died after being completely buried by the slide in the Madison mountain range on Saturday. Mr Kennedy escaped with minor injuries.

However, his father Michael Kennedy confirmed that his son committed suicide a day after the tragedy.

The avalanche occurred on Imp Peak in the Madison mountain range
Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

The former editor of Colorado-based magazine Climbing wrote on Facebook: "Hayden survived the avalanche but not the unbearable loss of his partner in life," Mr Kennedy wrote on Facebook.

"He chose to end his life. Myself and his mother Julie sorrowfully respect his decision."

The slide occurred at 10,000ft above sea level where the couple were skiing uphill using climbing skins on the bottom of their skis.

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center tweeted: “There was avalanche fatality on Imp Peak in the southern Madison Range on Saturday. Two skiers caught: one full and one partial burial.”

They had reportedly recently moved to Bozeman, Montana, so Ms Perkins could complete her mathematics and education studies at Montana State University.

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