Snow Mobiler Buried In Avalanche: Footage Captured Of Men Attempting To Rescue Trapped Snow Mobiler (VIDEO)

A very scary incident occurred on Sunday when an avalanche buried a man alive in the mountains of the Cascade Range in Washington. John Swanson was out snowmobiling when he paused to admire some others out enjoying the same pastime. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed by a wall of snow rolling down from above.

Fortunately, the other snow mobilers in the vicinity had seen Swanson just before he was covered by snow and were able to rush to his aid and dig him out. Amazingly, Rick Jablinske caught the entire scene on tape via a helmet cam. Jablinske saw Swanson become buried beneath the snow and was then fast on the scene as part of the rescue effort.

"I knew that I was buried enough in snow that I couldn't move...was suffocating in the snow," Swanson told WFMY News. "They knew where I went...that was the saving grace...they started digging that area."

According to King 5 News, Swanson was breathing and dazed once he was dug out but is now safely back at his home where he is recovering from his brush with death.

WATCH VIDEO AT TOP

Comments

[wilson1417]

04:44 PM on 01/25/2012

So many Helpers and NO SHOVEL...A clear sign folks here where not AVY SAVY! Get educated and be prepared not LUCKY! Videos like this show how and why folks die in avalanches...lack of education!

[kosnow11]

03:32 PM on 01/25/2012

"Turn my sled off!' HAHA. Just another day in the woods...

[kosnow11]

03:27 PM on 01/25/2012

"Snow_Mobiler". LOL obviously NOT written by one, jeeze.

[PoodleMom206]

02:05 PM on 01/25/2012

What a bunch of fools. Last week, we in Washington had perfect avalanche weather--snow, freezing rain, and more snow. Add the noise and, voila!

[cindylouwho718]

11:31 AM on 01/25/2012

You must have been standing behind a door when humanity was given out. What an ugly thought.

[didy8369]

04:28 PM on 01/25/2012

I agree. Bindi Boo should be so very ashamed, I'm embarrassed for her/him. ugh

[sieiantn]

11:50 AM on 01/25/2012

Let's just hope that people come to their senses and stop paying attention to her. Wishing her "dead" only hurts "you".

[wcaacw]

11:11 AM on 01/25/2012

This was set up from the beginning. What a bunch of bull. Cameras, action. They were riding in a pattern to make the snow brake loose and I've done the same thing snowmobiling.

[sieiantn]

11:51 AM on 01/25/2012

Are you sure about that? I mean if you're right, then that was an awful risk to take with somebodies life just to put on a "show". Amazing what some people will do for attention! Maybe they were hoping to make Youtube!

[wcaacw]

12:21 PM on 01/25/2012

That would be my guess also.

[conkhoward]

11:07 AM on 01/25/2012

Several years ago, my friends son lost his life while cat skiing in the back country in British Columbia. The group was skiing through some very thick powder and lost sight of him. At the bottom of the run, they noticed that he was missing and returned to look for him. He had gone head first into some deep powder and suffocated. There were 2 doctors in the group and they were unable to revive him. An expert skier, he left behind, a wife and his 1 year old son. I'm glad this man was saved.

[kidblizzard2]

11:21 AM on 01/25/2012

BACK COUNTRY RULE : ALWAYS SKI WITH A PARDNER

[kyoteee1]

12:29 PM on 01/25/2012

Back country rule: DON'T GO THERE!!!

[kidblizzard2]

11:01 AM on 01/25/2012

Let's see . Did the crew have 3 things for back country ? # 1,2,&3 ARE: SHOVEL, AVIE BEEPER,PROBE POLES

[j1sju]

11:00 AM on 01/25/2012

All he needed was a snorkel.

[Jann Stauffacher]

10:56 AM on 01/25/2012

Idiots! Tearing up the mountainside... disturbing wildlife... peace and quiet gone... they should be ashamed and find a different 'sport'!

[Bighoss285]

11:48 AM on 01/25/2012

What's more disturbing to the wildlife the expanding city you live in or the loggers clear cutting their land? Pull you head out of you backside and go hug a tree somewhere else. Snowmobilers are not hurting anyone or any wildlife. Quit being so negative!

[sieiantn]

11:54 AM on 01/25/2012

Good point! Imagine how the wildlife feels with the roaring of engines, the human screeches of excitement...I wonder how'd we take to that noise in our "domain"? Oh wait? We're the "higher" more "intelligent" species..We're "allowed" to do that! It's called "having fun". I guess.

[WILLIEMOJORISIN]

10:46 AM on 01/25/2012

Why in the heck did the guy dive under the avalanche ???

[andysrsm]

10:38 AM on 01/25/2012

The title says "attempting to rescue" the snowmobiler. They DID rescue him. Get it right.

[rkeeeballs]

10:30 AM on 01/25/2012

Looks as though these folks knew just what to do..glad that worked out !

[wilson1417]

04:54 PM on 01/25/2012

Seriously? Not a single person had a shovel and there where obviously zero beacons being used. They were LUCKY! If he had been slide and buried he would be a goner. These folks look like idiots. TAKE AN AVY AWARNESS COURSE AND GET AVY SAVY NOT LUCKY!

[exoticdoc2]

10:15 AM on 01/25/2012

So, you gonna tell us WHERE it happened?

[rkeeeballs]

10:31 AM on 01/25/2012

Cascade Range in the state of Washington ......

[WILLIEMOJORISIN]

10:48 AM on 01/25/2012

Ah the Cascades, fond memories from Mt Shasta Ca. part of the Cascade Mt range, :-)

[exoticdoc2]

04:12 PM on 01/25/2012

Well, gee, that just narrows it right down to somewhere between Canada and Oregon. Real specific. I live here, I hike and climb, so I am curious WHERE.