LEWISTON — A woman seriously injured Wednesday in a skiing accident at Sunday River Ski Resort, remains in critical condition Monday at Central Maine Medical Center, according to a family spokeswoman.

Sandra Bastinelli, 56, of Westminster, Md., was skiing with her husband, George T.R. Orton, and members of a Maryland ski club when she fell on an expert trail and suffered head and brain injuries, said stepdaughter Nichole M. Lewno, speaking for the family.

“We appreciate the exemplary care that she has received from the first responders to the staff at Central Maine Medical Center,” she said. “She’s an amazing woman.”

Bastinelli is in the intensive care unit and is expected to remain at the hospital for at least a “few more weeks,” she said.

In a posting Saturday to his Facebook page, Orton wrote, “there have been some small improvements in her condition that are all positive. However, we are not out of the woods yet. In fact, this will be a very long process.

“Your prayers and good wishes are very much appreciated.”

Bastinelli was skiing on White Heat, an expert trail, when she skied onto a section that hadn’t been groomed and fell, Sunday River spokeswoman Darcy Morse said Friday. Ski patrol members saw her from the chairlift and responded immediately. The woman was found bleeding and unconscious, Morse said.

She was flown to CMMC by LifeFlight helicopter, Morse said.

According to the family, Bastinelli and her husband are expert skiers who have traveled to ski resorts all over the world with their Maryland-based ski club.


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