A search was launched in southeastern British Columbia after two teen snowboarders went missing yesterday in B.C.'s backcountry.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on January 5, Nelson RCMP received a report about two snowboarders, both 16 years old, who were believed to have gone out of bounds and had not returned from the Whitewater Ski Resort near Nelson.

The resort’s ski patrol, Nelson Search and Rescue, and other local search and rescue crews immediately conducted a search of the ski hill but had to suspend their efforts overnight due to worsening conditions.

At first light in the morning today (January 6), search and rescue crews launched a search of the out-of-bounds area.

Search and rescue personnel aboard a helicopter managed to spot the two snowboarders and extracted them from the backcountry.

B.C. Emergency Health Services medically assessed them and they were released without any injury or illness.

RCMP Southeast District spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey stated in a news release that the two males built a shelter and started a fire for warmth.

The rescue took place after two men were caught in an avalanche as they were snowmobiling southwest of Merritt, B.C., on January 4. Unfotunately, one of the two men died and a B.C. Coroners Service investigation is underway.