Duncan MacPherson was a talented Canadian hockey player who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Austria in 1989. At the time, he was traveling through Europe before beginning a new position as a player-coach for a team in Dundee, Scotland.
Disappearance
On August 9, 1989, MacPherson was last seen at the Stubai Glacier ski resort in Tyrol, Austria. He had rented a snowboard and planned to spend the day on the glacier before continuing his trip. He was supposed to arrive in Dundee by August 12, but when he never showed up, his family grew concerned and began searching for him.
Initial Search
Despite efforts by both his family and authorities, no trace of him was found. Six weeks later, the car he had borrowed was discovered untouched in the resort’s parking lot. Strangely, there was still no sign of MacPherson himself—no belongings, no equipment, no clues.
Discovery of His Remains
For years, the case remained unsolved. Then, in 2003, after glacier ice had retreated significantly, MacPherson’s body was finally uncovered in the Schaufelferner Glacier. The condition of his remains and his equipment provided shocking new information:
- His injuries were consistent with being struck by heavy machinery.
- His snowboard was broken, which supported the idea that he may have been run over.
- Investigators concluded that he was likely accidentally hit by a snowcat (a large grooming vehicle) during poor visibility.
- After the accident, his body seems to have been left in a shallow crevasse, where it remained hidden for 14 years until the glacier melted back enough to reveal it.
Aftermath
The discovery raised troubling questions about why the accident was never reported, why proper searches had not been conducted in the area, and whether the resort had concealed the incident. MacPherson’s family fought for years to uncover the truth and push for accountability.
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