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General News

Man survives after 17 hours under avalanche

Wednesday 10 February 2010

A 21 year old was rescued in Switzerland on Sunday after spending 17 hours trapped under an avalanche

As reported on pistehors.com, the man had been skiing off piste near Evolène in the Swiss Valais on Saturday 6 February when the avalanche happened. Family members had reported him missing at 5.30pm, but due to safety concerns the initial search had to be called off until first light on Sunday.

When the search resumed a helicopter team saw the surface of the snow moving on a slide 50m by 150m in size with tracks leading into it. Rescuers discovered the man buried 50cm beneath the surface of the slide, where he had managed to create an air pocket around his head.

It is thought that the air pocket and depth of burial are what allowed the man, who was found conscious with only mild hypothermia, to survive for 17 hours. According to the Avalanche Survival Curve at pistehors.com, an avalanche victim’s chances of survival drop to one in ten at two hours. The 21 year’s safe rescue has been described by Valais Police as “exceptional”.