When he failed to establish a signal, the unburied individual proceeded to dial 9-1-1 for assistance. Personnel and canine search teams from the Summit County Rescue Group, accompanied by two deputies from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, promptly mobilized to the location. The dramatic rescue operation was captured on the body camera of one of the deputies, showcasing rescue team members utilizing shovels to unearth the man trapped beneath the snow. “Approximately 2 feet below the surface, buried under 2 feet of snow, we have successfully uncovered him,” a deputy can be heard remarking off-camera. “He is breathing, conscious, and communicating with us.” Officials from SCRG disclosed that the man had been buried for approximately 65 minutes. The fact that he managed to survive after being trapped for such a prolonged period is truly remarkable, as statistics indicate that most avalanche victims typically succumb to suffocation within 15 minutes of being buried, as noted by Michael Schilling of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s incredibly astonishing,” he conveyed to FOX Weather. “Often, our operations result in recoveries. So, discovering someone after 65 minutes of burial is exceedingly rare.” Tragically, 2 skiers lost their lives in Oregon mountains due to an avalanche burying them. The individual who had been buried was carefully transported off the site via snowmobile and a ski-equipped gurney, then swiftly taken by ambulance to a nearby medical facility. SCRG reported that he mainly suffered from the initial stages of hypothermia. The avalanche incident occurred following a succession of severe winter storms that blanketed the region with heavy snow. SCRG highlighted that the avalanche risk level on the day of the occurrence had been evaluated as “high” by the CAIC, rated at 4 out of 5. “Individuals venturing into the backcountry must recognize that an avalanche burial typically leads to fatality if the individual is not located and extricated within 15 minutes,” cautioned SCRG. “Survival chances are significantly enhanced when all members of the party carry a transceiver, probe pole, and shovel, and are proficient in their use. In this instance, the trapped individual was exceptionally fortunate to have been found alive.” A spate of avalanches has struck the area over the past week, according to the CAIC. These avalanches were categorized as D3 events, denoting very large-scale occurrences. An instance of such an avalanche took place on a northwest-facing slope above the Maroon Creek Road near Aspen. “Encountering such formidable forces should be avoided at all costs,” advised the CAIC. They urged individuals to opt for recreational activities on gentler, lower-angled slopes, steering clear of steeper terrain to mitigate risks and evade the potential dangers of a fatal avalanche.
