PICTURED: Utah ski resort worker, 29, killed after fallen tree smashed into ski lift

An employee at a Utah ski resort who died in a chairlift accident on Monday was a 29-year-old ski patroller from Millcreek, Utah.

Christian Helger died after being ejected from a chairlift shaken by a tree that fell onto a lift cable, Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez said on Wednesday.

'Our prayers are with the Helger family as they grieve the loss of Christian,' Martinez said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Representatives of Park City Mountain and the Summit County Sheriff believe Helger fell at least 25 feet from the Short Cut chairlift into a deep ravine around 11:25 a.m. 

Ski patrol members took at least 20 minutes to reach Helger and dig him out of what deputies called 'chest-deep snow' before attempting to treat him. 

Christian Helger, 29, a Park City Mountain employee, died on Monday morning in Utah after being ejected from a chairlift that was shaken by a tree that fell onto a lift cable

Representatives of Park City Mountain and the Summit County Sheriff believe Helger fell at least 25 feet from the Short Cut chairlift into a deep ravine around 11:25 a.m. on Monday

Helger was returning to his station after a morning of avalanche mitigation work when the accident occurred, according to a statement released by the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association on Wednesday.

Investigators said they believe a pine tree fell onto the chair lift cable behind the chair he was riding in, causing nearby chairs to jump so severely he fell out. 

Summit County Sheriff Captain Andrew Wright told KSL-TV on Tuesday that Helger fell to terrain that was difficult to access.  

'This wasn't over a run,' Wright said on Tuesday. 'There was a ravine where he had fallen. It took at least 20 minutes from what we've been told for ski patrol to get down there, dig him out of the snow, and start performing life-saving measures.'

Ski patrollers worked for hours to extricate Helger's body in what they called avalanche-prone terrain, according to the statement. Other patrollers safely evacuated 10 riders from the lift and escorted them out of the challenging area.

The ski patrol union declined to comment on the state of the lift cable and surrounding trees, according to KPCW. The union said in its statement that any loss is incredibly difficult for patrollers, but responding to a fatal accident involving one of their own was 'truly unfathomable.'

The Medical Examiner's Office will determine the exact cause of death. 

Helger was returning to his station after a morning of avalanche mitigation work when the accident occurred, according to Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association on Wednesday

Helger is described by loved ones as an 'incredible climber and human'

There has been an outpouring of love and heartfelt messages on Helger's social media accounts which show a plethora of photos of the adventurous skier and climber. His Instagram account bio reads: 'Alive to work and play outside'

Wright said the department's investigation may consider variables including snow, tree health and tree proximity to the lift. 

'Certainly, there are a lot of questions that will come into play as to what caused that to happen. Yes, there was a lot of snow. There could be other factors — the health of the tree, the proximity of the tree, all of those types of things,' Wright said. 

For now, Park City Mountain Resort is keeping the Short Cut chairlift closed and working with its employees to help them with anything they need.

'Especially those ski patrollers, they are really tight knit,' Wright said.

The investigation may consider variables including snow, tree health and proximity to the lift

For now, Park City Mountain Resort is keeping the Short Cut chairlift closed and working with its employees to help them with anything they need

There has been an outpouring of love and heartfelt messages on Helger's social media accounts which show a plethora of photos of the adventurous skier and climber. His Instagram account bio reads: 'Alive to work and play outside.'

'Lost my nephew Christian this week in a horrible, tragic accident,' one family member wrote. 'Words can't express the sadness we all feel- our hearts are broken. We love you Christian and will never forget you amazing smile!!!'

Another loved one described Helger as an 'incredible climber and human' and shared photos of the worker scaling the sides of cliffs. 

As record snowfall continues in Utah, Park City has received 56 inches in the past week. 

Lift maintenance crews have been in a labor dispute with the resort over the past year, demanding higher wages, safer working conditions and more efforts to retain experienced mechanics.