Join our Whatsapp channel

       OSLO: A tourist buried by an avalanche in northern Norway was pulled out alive in a “miracle” rescue on Wednesday, after spending seven hours trapped beneath the snow, local media reported.

       Described as being in his forties or fifties, the man was found, conscious, under about 1.5 metres (5 feet) of snow shortly after midnight in the municipality of Lyngen. He had then spent nearly seven hours in an air pocket from where he had been able to call the police.

       “People who survive an avalanche usually suffocate within 10 minutes” if they’re buried under the snow, Audun Hetland, an avalanche researcher from the University of Tromso, told newspaper iTromso. “Some survive longer. But seven hours is almost unique in history,” he added.

       Advertisements

       Video Player is loading.

       Play Video Play Loaded: 1.66%

       0:00

       Remaining Time - -:-

       Unmute

       Fullscreen

       This is a modal window.

       The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.

       Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

       Text Color WhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan TransparencyOpaqueSemi-Transparent Background Color BlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan TransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparent Window Color BlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan TransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaque

       Font Size 50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400% Text Edge Style NoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall Caps

       Reset restore all settings to the default values Done

       Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window.

       Advertisement

       X

       Kristian Midtgard, a dog handler who with his dog Whiskey found the man, told TV2 that “It was very surprising that he was still alive.” “All the statistics and experience say that it’s not possible when you stay buried for so long,” he added.

       The mayor of Lyngen, Erik Larsen, quoted by public broadcaster NRK, called it “a miracle.” The man was part of a group of three foreign tourists on a ski tour in a region where authorities warned there was a high risk of avalanches.

       Another member of the trio was also caught by the rushing snow and swept into the waters of a fjord below. He managed to get ashore and was able to contact authorities. A search operation is continuing for a woman who is still missing. The nationalities of the tourists have not been disclosed.

       Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2025