It would be considered very unusual to have three deaths in a season, left alone one day.

Many local people have been deeply saddened and affected by the death of Malcolm Ripper who died on Sunday afternoon after hitting a tree at the bottom of Sun Valley at Perisher.

Neil Thew from Perisher Blue said: "Apparently he was a very capable skier. It's believed he may have clipped another person's ski, which caused him to go off course. It was just an accident. It's one of those very unfortunate things.''

Mr Ripper's wife, Marissa and 13 year old daughter, Michaela, have been comforted by friends and family at their Tyrolean Village home.

A number of school friends from Jindabyne Central School have taken cards and been to see Mrs Ripper and Michaela as well as JCS Principal, Jenne Gardner, who said: "Our thoughts are very much with the family."

On Monday morning the effect was obvious at the close knit school community and counsellors were brought in to support both students and staff.

Mrs Gardner said that there had been a steady stream of children talking to counsellors about their feelings some of which related to their own experiences.

The skiing tragedies follow hard on the heels of the death of French ski instructor, Laurianne Gaydon, just two weeks ago and the unexpected death of a young woman who was in Thredbo as a seasonal worker, on Monday night.

For some people in the community the terrible toll of fatalities is proving overwhelming, according to Uniting Church Pastor, Matthew McBurney, who is finding a growing number of people looking for help or guidance, often with their own unresolved grief issues.

Pastor McBurney said: "These recent events are raising past issues of grief or loss and when this happens it is best to talk to someone and work through these matters."