A skier very narrowly avoided suffocating to death after being buried alive in the snow. The startling incident happened just a week after an avalanche killed nine people.
The incident happened on February 18. A couple of skiers hit the slopes at the Palisades Tahoe resort. That's when they came to the rescue of another skier trapped under a mountain of snow. Only the skis were visible.
"For whatever reason we stopped and happened to just see tips of the skis in the whiteout and luckily we did," said Carson Schmidt. Schmidt and his friend managed to rescue the trapped skier from his icy tomb.
"We got you," one of the skiers said. They continued to dig out the trapped skier and pull them to safety. Fortunately, this tale had a happy ending.
Skier Rescued
"Just want it to be a reminder to ski safely and ski with a buddy," Schmidt said in the post on social media. "Doesn't have to be an avalanche or a tree well to get buried when it's that deep."
The incident occurred days after an avalanche hit in the Lake Tahoe area. It hit a group of 15 skiers. Sadly, nine people died in the resulting tragedy. That included a group of six moms who were vacationing together.
"There are no words that truly capture the significance of this loss and our hearts mourn alongside the families of those affected by this catastrophic event," said Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at the press conference about the recovery. "The weight of this event is felt across many families, friends, and colleagues, and we stand together with them during this difficult time."
Skiing is a popular sport, but it can also be dangerous. Next time you hit the slopes remember to practice safety and precautions. Stay safe out there!
