A group of skiers who performed first aid to a man were recognized. The man was buried by an avalanche. The backcountry skier had to be lifted to safety. It was a moment that rescuers claim may not have been possible if the group of Good Samaritans had not come to his aid.
Life on the line
Julian Stoddart was one of the five skiers spending the day on Hollyburn Mountain who spotted someone near a pile of debris down Tony Baker Gully.
He stated that initially, it was kind of confusing when he saw the scene because it is not every day to see or stumble upon an avalanche. They approached what they though was a lone skier and learned that he was attempting to dig out his friend, a 67-year old man who was buried in about 2 meters of snow.
Stoddart stated that there was a risk of snow falling into the hole that his partner dug up, so at that point, it certainly was not clear that he was able to breathe very well. The group pitched in, digging the man free with shovels that they carried with them. They also had camp stoves that they used to keep the stuck skier warm.
They also cut boughs off nearby trees, turning the branches into a makeshift floor and tried to insulate him as much as possible with their backpacks and clothing. They warmed up a lot of water and placed them in bottles next to his skin.
Stoddart made his way to an area with cellphone service and called 911 and North Shore Rescue. The crews were able to reach the area and airlift the skier to a hospital.
North Shore Rescue’s Mike Danks stated that the man who is being treated for pelvic and leg fractures is lucky to have lived through the incident. He credits those men who save the man. They were experienced backcountry skiers with equipment that really made the day.
Stoddart stated that he and his friends are thankful that they were in the right place at the right time.
Immediate intervention
Proper delivery of first aid skills can improve the chances of survival during emergencies. You can enroll in a first aid course today to be prepared to deal with emergencies.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a first aid training course and for more information, check out these sources:
Mayo Clinic’s first aid section offers comprehensive resources and guidance.
Wikipedia provides an overview of first aid principles and techniques.
Understand the symptoms and causes of a broken leg with Mayo Clinic’s detailed guide.