Female climber is crushed under two huge columns of falling ice after pushing her friend out the way

A heroic ice climber was crushed to death by two gigantic columns of ice after pushing a fellow climber out of their path at a Utah park.

Meg O’Neill, 41, was climbing Raven Falls above Indian Canyon on Sunday with three others when she saw the ice plunging toward her and an unidentified 21-year-old, according to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office.

O'Neill acted quickly and shoved the woman out of the way 'which probably saved her life,' police said.

But within seconds, the O'Neill got caught under 'two huge blocks of ice' and was pinned to the ground below.

The 21-year-old was then able to climb down the terrain and call help for O'Neill and the 34-year-old male accompanying them, who fell about 40ft when the columns hit.

Meg O’Neill, 41, was climbing Raven Falls in Utah when she selflessly risked her own life to save a fellow 21-year-old climber on Sunday

O'Neill quickly shoved the female climber out of the way as ice began to fall on them following a massive column of ice. Pictured: The ice that fell on O'Neill

Paramedics rushed to the scene and used a helicopter to hoist off the severely injured man and transport him to a local hospital. 

O'Neill's body wasn't recovered from under the ice until Monday with the help of several volunteers. Flowers have since been placed near where O'Neill died.

'Our sincere condolences to all effected by this tragedy, to the family of this brave, courageous woman who lost her life while saving another,' Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a statement. 

A Facebook group dedicated to the climber titled, 'For Meg,' was created in honor of the hero's life. 

Several of O'Neill's climbing buddies wrote heartfelt tributes to remember the 'selfless' and 'caring' person they once knew. 

'Just last month we were drinking wine and I told you how I almost died in Patagonia, and we joked that that’s the only way we would want to go,' Carl Smith wrote. 

Smith volunteered to find O'Neill's body under the block of ice.  

'Yesterday I carried an empty bag up to your last climb and helped you down. My heart hurts. The mountains and skies were crying for you.' 

O'Neill appeared to be well known throughout the US climbing community and always made new friends on her expeditions.

Several remembered her as a 'one of a kind' person.

'She was a truly special person and spread so much enthusiasm and kindness. I want to be more like her,' Anna Von Der Marwitz wrote. 'I hope she knew how much she changed the world around her for the better.'

The 21-year-old was then able to climb down the terrain and call help for O'Neill and the 34-year-old male accompanying them, who fell about 40 ft when the columns hit the ground. Pictured: Raven Falls where the accident occurred

O'Neill appeared to be well known throughout the US climbing community and always made new friends on her expenditures

O'Neill's body wasn't recovered from under the blocks of ice until Monday with the help of several volunteers

Flowers have been placed near where O'Neill died

A Facebook group dedicated to the climber titled, 'For Meg,' was created in honor of the hero's life

Camille Fiducia, a co-worker and friend of O'Neill, remembered the heroic climber as 'the heart and soul' of the outdoor sports program the two worked at, Embark Outdoors.

'[She] constructed her entire life around service, and it’s something that’s really beautiful,' Fiducia told Fox 13. 

'Meg has this impressive outdoor resume. A very prolific climber in the Wasatch, and a very committed outdoors person.'  

O'Neill also had a goal 'to make the outdoors a more inclusive place for underrepresented populations.

'She chased after a job that would be fulfilling work, that are often the jobs that are thankless,' Fiducia said.

Embark Outdoors also paid tribute to O'Neill and recalled her selflessness. 

'We have lost a dear friend, a hero, and our fearless leader,' the company wrote in a grieving Instagram post. 

'In an act so true to Meg, she made sure the others on the ground were safe before she was killed by falling debris. Search and Rescue has reached her, and it’s confirmed that it happened instantly. 

'Most of our girls have known Meg for half their life. She’d been a mentor to them since 7th grade. She was the heart and soul of this program, as you all well know.' 

Several remembered her as a 'one of a kind' person