“I was partially buried by the avalanche and am absolutely dependent on my partner to dig me out.”Published at 18:55 GMT
gabriella pomeroy
live reporter
Richard Boswell was partially buried in an avalanche in California and had to be dug out.
We spoke to Richard Boswell, a backcountry ski guide and avalanche educator based in California. He runs training courses for skiers on what to do if you get caught in an avalanche.
“I once got buried in an avalanche in California,” he says. “It wasn’t a fun experience. Once inside, you can’t move. You’re stuck in place, surrounded by snow, and completely dependent on your partner to act quickly and dig you out.”
When the avalanche occurred, his ski friends rescued him and continued on their way, he said.
People caught in an avalanche have the best chance of success “if they can find their friends within 10 minutes,” he says.
However, once external rescue teams are called in, “the chances of success in rescuing those still buried are extremely low.”
“We hope that by the time rescuers arrive on the scene, all the people who were buried will have been brought to the surface. And we hope that they won’t hit a tree or go over a cliff,” he says.