In what’s being called a “miracle” rescue, a 12-year-old boy was pulled from the snow in the French Alps after being buried for at least 40 minutes. A trained avalanche dog was able to locate him. The young boy wasn’t wearing any avalanche equipment like a beacon and was reportedly riding off-piste at La Plagne resort, which had recently received a sizeable storm.
The boy was apparently riding ahead of a group of skiers or snowboarders when the slope let loose, carrying him more than 100 yards before burying him. Without a transceiver, the only way the boy would have been found was with the help of a dog. Chances of surviving an avalanche after being buried for more than 15 minutes are miniscule. The boy apparently had an air pocket in the snow and came away with only a broken leg.
