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Oklahoman dies after falling from cliff in British Columbia, Canada

Sean Lawrence Miller, 43, of Norman, died Monday in a skiing accident in British Columbia, Canada, authorities said.

BY SHEILA STOGSDILL | Modified: January 9, 2013 at 10:02 pm | Published: January 9, 2013

A Norman man died after falling 70 feet off a snow-covered cliff during an early morning ski excursion in Whistle, British Columbia, national police said Wednesday.

Sean Lawrence Miller, 43, died Monday, said Sgt. Rob Knapton, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“A passing skier noticed him lying in the snow and called for help,” Knapton said. “Attempts were made at the scene to revive him, but all efforts were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

An initial investigation shows Miller fell from the cliff area that overshadows Franz's Meadows, Knapton said.

Miller skied off the cliff and crashed in about 2 feet of snow, which caused a small avalanche, sending him down the steep slope another 50 yards, police said.

Knapton said it appears Miller, who was an experienced skier, had been in the snow for less than two hours.

Whistler is a top ranked ski resort that was one of the sites of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It is about 220 miles north of Seattle.