Terrifying Footage of Snowboarder Buried Alive in Deep Snow after falling into Tree Well
Be aware, Spruce Traps can be deadly.
by
Backcountry Planet
January 17, 2015
This snowboarder is super lucky to be alive after falling upside down into a deep snow tree well and can't self rescue himself. Luckily, his friend was watching him snowboard through the deep powder and saw him go in. Even with his buddy getting to him right away, it still took 3 minutes of digging from three people to dig down four feet and uncover his face / mouth.
Scary stuff, especially when you learn that 90% of people involved in Tree Wells accidents can NOT self-rescue themselves.
A tree well/ snow immersion suffocation accident can happen when a skier or snowboarder falls – usually headfirst – into a tree well or deep loose snow and becomes immobilized and trapped under the snow and suffocates.
In an inverted position you can become trapped under the snow. Breathing becomes difficult as the loose snow packs in around you. Without immediate help from your partner, you may suffocate.
Prevention of falling into a tree well or areas of deep snow is all-important because the odds of surviving deep snow immersion are low.
90% of people involved in Tree Well/ SIS hazard research experiments could NOT rescue themselves. If a partner is not there for immediate rescue, the skier or rider may die very quickly from suffocation - in many cases, he or she can die as quickly as someone can drown in water.
Learn what to do in the event you find yourself stuck in a Tree Well: http://www.deepsnowsafety.org/