Tourist Buried Under Snow in Northern Norway Rescued After Seven Hours: A Miraculous Survival

In a remarkable turn of events, a tourist trapped by an avalanche in northern Norway has been rescued alive after spending nearly seven hours buried under approximately 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) of snow. The incident took place in the municipality of Lyngen, where local media reported the rescue occurred shortly after midnight.

The rescued man, described as being in his 40s or 50s, was discovered conscious and in an air pocket beneath the snow. Authorities stated that he managed to make a call to the police while trapped, which likely aided in the efforts to locate him. Dr. Audun Hetland, an avalanche researcher from the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, explained the extraordinary nature of this survival. “People who are buried under the snow and survive an avalanche usually suffocate within 10 minutes. Some survive longer, but seven hours is almost unique in history,” he remarked.

Kristian Midtgard, a dog handler involved in the rescue with his canine partner, Whiskey, expressed astonishment at the man's condition. “It was very surprising that he was still alive,” Midtgard told TV2. He noted that statistical evidence and professional experience strongly suggest that survival would be impossible after such an extended period under the snow.

Local officials also reacted to the miracle rescue. Erik Larsen, the mayor of Lyngen, referred to the incident as “a miracle” in comments shared with the public broadcaster NRK.

The man was skiing as part of a group of three foreign tourists in a region where authorities had issued warnings about a high risk of avalanches. Another member of the group was reportedly caught in the avalanche and swept into the waters of a nearby fjord. Fortunately, he was able to reach the shore and alert authorities about the incident. A search operation is currently ongoing for a third member of the group, a woman who remains missing.

The nationalities of the tourists have not been publicly disclosed, and rescue operations continue as the local community rallies in hope for the missing woman’s safe return.