Although the operation was successful, subsequent tests revealed Burke had sustained irreversible damage to her brain as a result of the cardiac arrest, which had hindered the supply of oxygen to her brain.
Burke died “peacefully surrounded by those she loved” at 9:22 a.m., the family’s statement said.
Doctors and officials at University Hospital, at the request of Burke’s family, were unavailable for comment Thursday.
Burke’s crash inevitably called to mind the one involving Pearce, which instigated debates on the safety of such events. Pearce was knocked unconscious after hitting his head on the edge of the halfpipe and remained in a coma for weeks.
Though he got back on a snowboard last month, his recovery from the effects of his injury continues, and he has no plans to compete again.
Burke’s death could renew concerns about the sport.
Judge said Thursday that he expected that Burke’s death would increase scrutiny. He said his organization considered athlete safety a “pre-eminent and predominant concern.” Burke’s accident, he said, was an “extraordinary” tragedy that would not ultimately require an overhaul of safety procedures.
“She was doing a trick she was well versed in, the conditions were good, and everything seemed normal,” Judge said. “That mitigates a lot of that sort of introspection.”