How did Marko Grilc die? Instagram star and snowboarder, 38, found dead at ski resort
Celebrity snowboarder and Instagram icon Marko Grilc has tragically died at the age of 38 years, as confirmed by his sponsors GoPro and Burton Snowboards. The Slovenian snowboarder and top athlete, who went by his nickname 'Grilo', was reportedly found dead at a ski resort in Solden, Austria on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. He is survived by his fiancee Nina and their two children, with whom he often shared family photos on his Instagram feed.
His death was mourned by his friends, fans, and sponsors, as the GoPro management shared, "We are saddened to hear the news of Marko Grilc’s passing. He was a beloved member of the GoPro family and inspired us not only as a professional athlete, but as a father and an amazing human. He was a legend and will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” Grilc's close friend and mentor Mark McMorris also mourned his death, writing, "Heartbroken over the passing of my good friend @markogrilc. Grilo was a huge mentor to me and he will never be forgotten! My condolences go out to his family." This year, there has been news of other Instagram stars dying tragically. In April, Lee Macmillan, a travel influencer, 27, known for her 'van life' died by suicide as she battled depression. Gabriel Salazar, a TikToker,19, and 3 others were killed in a car crash in Texas in October.
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We are saddened to hear the news of Marko Grilc’s passing. He was a beloved member of the GoPro family and inspired us not only as a professional athlete, but as a father and an amazing human.
— GoPro (@GoPro) November 24, 2021
He was a legend and will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family pic.twitter.com/LJZthtgiRN
Heartbroken over the passing of my good friend @markogrilc
— Mark McMorris (@markmcmorris) November 25, 2021
Grilo was a huge mentor to me and he will never be forgotten! My condolences go out to his family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/2Pl9QC7kA3
How did Marko Grilc die?
The famous snowboarder reportedly died in a tragic accident while participating in the dangerous sport at the Solden Ski resort. According to police in Tyrol, Austria, the 38-year-old Slovene "suffered fatal head injuries" around 3 pm on Tuesday. He was not wearing any protective gear like the helmet at the time of the accident.
He was part of a crew who had plans to film in the area later this week. Grilc and others were exploring the location when he accidentally fell from a lift and hit his head "against a snow covered-rock". The crew and employees at the resort desperately tried resuscitating him but he could not be revived. Grilc succumbed to his injuries at the spot and was pronounced dead later.
The Instagram-favorite snowboarder, who had over 251,000 followers on the social media platform, was born in Ljubljana and professionally debuted at the FIS Junior World Championships in 2002 in Finland. He soared to success in the next 11 years as a champion snowboarder and even participated in the World Cup in 2013. He then started sharing his snowboarding videos on Instagram, which were a quick hit among the youth audience and adventure sports enthusiasts.
CEO John Lacy of Burton Snowboards, which was one of Grilc's key sponsors, released a statement after his tragic death, saying, "Grilo was a career snowboarder in a league of his own. Through his World Titles, unforgettable video parts, and deep love of the sport, he made outstanding contributions to the snowboarding world that are still recognized today. Guiding his children, the next generation of riders, into the world of snowboarding was his most recent passion. We lost one of the very best.”