A dramatic rescue unfolded in Colorado as a man was pulled from the snow after being buried for over an hour following an avalanche at Vail Pass. Bodycam footage from the Summit County Sheriff's Office reveals the intense moments as first responders dug through the snow, eventually uncovering the victim, who remarkably only suffered minor injuries.
The victim's survival was likely aided by an avalanche airbag backpack, which appeared to help keep him near the surface. "Approximately two feet down… we’ve just uncovered him," a deputy can be heard saying in the video. "He is breathing, conscious, and speaking to us." The Summit County Sheriff's Office expressed gratitude for the positive outcome and praised the collaborative efforts of their deputies and the Summit County Rescue Group.
Lt. Mike Schilling described the rescue to FOX Weather as "extremely amazing," emphasizing the rarity of finding someone alive after such a prolonged burial. "We go to those rescues, and oftentimes, they're recoveries. So to find someone after an hour and five minutes of burial is extraordinarily rare," he stated.
This incident occurred on the same day as a tragic avalanche in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, where two backcountry skiers lost their lives. The victims, Susan and Terance Skjersaa, were part of a family that established Bend’s first ski shop.
In a separate incident, an 8-year-old snowboarder was rescued after falling into a safety net at Killington Ski Resort in Vermont. The child was reportedly not fully seated when the chairlift departed.
