A Massachusetts family is mourning the loss of their 11-year-old daughter. Madelyn Eitas was on a family ski vacation in Utah when she found herself buried in an avalanche. When she disappeared, her family and those around them quickly sprang into action in an attempt to find her. Ultimately, the person who found Madelyn was her older brother. Sadly, it was too late, and there wasn’t much that could have been done to save her. Now, those who knew her are coming together to remember what a loving and wonderful kid she was, and her family is also attempting to use the tragedy as a message for good.
The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake announced that the department received a report of an avalanche at Brighton Ski Resort around 12:32 p.m. on February 19, 2026, Boston 25 News reported. First responders rushed to the scene.
When they arrived, they found the Eitas family, along with about 20 other people, frantically searching for Madelyn. During that time, her brother Cameron “heroically used an application to locate her,” per the outlet.
CPR was used on the girl before she was taken to the hospital. After being in critical condition, Madelyn died at the hospital.
Unified Police said that their “thoughts are with the victim’s family during this incredibly difficult time,” per a statement shared by Boston 25 News. “The communities here in Utah, as well as the family’s home community in Massachusetts, now have the important responsibility of rallying around the family to provide support, compassion, and comfort in the times ahead.”
On February 20, the Old Rochester Regional School District confirmed the girl was a student at Rochester Memorial School, WCVB reported.
“This is devastating news for our school community. We offer our sincere condolences to the student’s family, friends, classmates, and teachers during this unimaginable time,” district officials shared via a statement. Counseling and support services were offered to the school community for several days afterward.
“Madelyn was the love of our lives. She was caring, beautiful, silly, sassy, athletic and loving — and without question, the best cuddler of all time,” her family shared in her obituary.
“From the day she was born ‘Sissy,’ looked up to her big brother, Cam. She was her Mama’s mini me and bestie, her Daddy’s little girl who she confided in solving her challenges and she loved her dog, Skarla,” the obituary reads. “Words cannot fully express how deeply she will be missed by her family and friends.”
The Eitas family went on to call her “the best ‘Momma Bear’ — a natural leader, great teammate, and loving friend.” Like a typical 11-year-old girl, Madelyn “loved dancing, singing, spending time with friends.” Some of her favorite foods included “sushi, lobster, steak, venison, cheeseburgers, candy, and ice cream.”
In her memory, the Eitas family is creating a community fund via Venmo to “honor the incredible light she brought into our lives.”
“Our hope is that these efforts will strengthen the community she loved so deeply and create lasting reminders of her energy, kindness, and fearless heart,” the fund’s description reads.
